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Jail Strip Search Settlement Talks On Hold

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Jul 16, 2009 7:05 pm US/Eastern

Jail Strip Search Settlement Talks On Hold

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ― Allegheny county taxpayers could be on the hook for millions of dollars because of a lawsuit over strip searches at the jail.

KDKA-TV's Andy Sheehan reports that negotiations to try and settle the case have broken down.

Every day sheriff's deputies bring dozens of people they arrest down to the county jail. While some are accused of felonies like rape and murder, others have been arrested on less serious crimes. Crimes such as non-payment of child support.

According to this class action lawsuit, scores of these lesser offenders were illegally subjected to strip searches over the years. This is in violation of their fourth amendment rights protecting against unreasonable searches and seizures.

The have "suffered or will suffer psychological pain, humiliation, suffering and mental anguish."

"People should understand that a strip search is a really dehumanizing, degrading, intrusive kind of search," Vic Walczak said.

Across the country,judges and juries have agreed and are awarding plaintiffs in Camden, N.J. $7.5 million, Boston, $10 million, San Bernadino, Calif. $25 million and New York City $50 million.

Sources say plaintiffs here offered to settle for $3.5 million.

However, the county balked at paying that much money and now settlement talks have all but broken down. All the court papers have been filed and now a federal judge may decide the matter at any time. This is a decision that could cost the county even more money at a time when it can ill afford any more holes in its budget.

"It's the county's position that we did not violate any of the pre-trial detainees constitutional rights and we were acting properly," solicitor Mike Wojcik said.

However, through technology the county has since changed its policy all together. They have purchased two of the so-called ion scanners at $135,000 a piece.

By blasting the person with jets of air and then scanning the airborne particles, the scanners can detect traces of narcotics or explosives on a fully clothed person. The county declined comment Thursday, but in a previous interview Wojcik said the county can win on the merits.

"We have a strong case. We are going to pursue both the litigation aspect and the mediation aspect and do what we feel best in the interest of the county and the best interest of the taxpayers," Wojcik said.

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