Sheriff Joe's Sex-Crime Probe Blames 'Systematic Problem'

A five-year investigation into more than 400 botched sex-crime cases blames inadequate resources rather than individual Maricopa County (Ariz.) Sheriff's detectives or leaders.

The sheriff's office on Monday released the results of its internal probe of the cases, which have been also been the subject of ongoing investigative coverage in the Arizona Republic and a book by a former El Mirage assistant police chief.

The sheriff's investigation generated nearly 10,000 documents and concluded that sex-crime unit detectives were not at fault.

"The deficiencies identified ... were not problems that stemmed from the conduct of one or a few individuals," according to an internal email about the report published by the Arizona Republic. "Rather, I have determined that ... the MCSO sex-crimes unit was inadequately resourced to complete its tasks. The systemic problem could not then, and cannot now, be properly addressed or corrected by disciplining a few individuals."

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