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County Executive Weighs In On Strip Search Suit

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Sep 8, 2009 10:05 pm US/Eastern

County Executive Weighs In On Strip Search Suit

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ― Allegheny County will have to pay after a federal magistrate ruled strip searches at the county jail violated the constitutional rights of thousands of inmates accused of minor crimes.

County Executive Dan Onorato says the practice was for the protection of corrections officers and other inmates.

"Remember this was a strip search for people coming into the jail," he said. "You want to stop any contraband coming in, and when you limit what you're allowed to do, it becomes a problem."

But attorneys for the searched inmates say the searches were conducted without probable cause.

"These individuals were arrested for minor crimes. They were not violent in nature," attorney Robert Peirce said.  "There was not a suspicion that drugs may have been involved that they could be smuggling drugs or weapons into the jail and this court has rightly ruled that the constitution protects people."

Across the country, similar lawsuits have cost local governments millions.

The plaintiffs rejected a $3 million settlement offer from the county and now a judge is likely to decide just how much the county will pay.

It could blow a hole in the county's budget.

"Well obviously there was a proposed settlement around $3 (million) and so yes – that number we can deal with," Onorato said. "If you go beyond that, it becomes an issue. It becomes a big issue."

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