SWOP Behind Bars stories

What’s up with Grady Judd?

For over a decade, Sheriff Grady Judd has been "fighting sex trafficking" in Polk County—Florida's fourth largest county by area and eighth largest by population—through high-profile human trafficking stings and dramatic YouTube videos. Judd even maintains his own YouTube channel, where he recounts recent arrests with flair, displaying mugshots on large placards and issuing widely distributed press releases. His most recent sting targeted Asian massage parlors, sparking significant controversy within advocacy spaces. Referred to as “The Joe Arpaio of Florida,” Judd has both staunch supporters and vocal critics.