Jul 14, 2008 10:30 pm US/Eastern
Strip Search Lawsuit Could Cost County Millions
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ―
Every day sheriff deputies and police officers bring dozens of people they arrest down to the Allegheny County Jail, and while some are accused of felonies like rape and murder, others have been arrested on less serious crimes, misdemeanors such as traffic violations and non-payment of child support.
And yet, according to a class-action lawsuit, scores of these lesser offenders were illegally subjected to strip searches over the years in violation of their Fourth Amendment rights protecting against unreasonable searches and seizures and have "suffered or will suffer psychological pain, humiliation, suffering and mental anguish."
The inmates who were strip searched and the county are now in talks to settle the matter out of court. But in other jurisdictions, similar talks resulted in multi-million dollar settlements. And in this time of tight budgets, the county can ill-afford to be shelling out that kind of cash.
Consider the settlements elsewhere:
- Camden, NJ - $7.5 million
- Boston - $10 million
- San Bernardino, CA - $25 million
- New York City - $50 milllion
"It's the county's position that we did not violate any of the pre-trial detainees' constitutional rights and we were acting properly," County Solicitor Mike Wojcik said.
The county at this point has admitted no wrong, but through technology has changed its policy. Instead of stripping people detained on less serious crimes, they've purchased two Ion Scanners at $135,000 a piece. By blasting the person with jets of air and then scanning the airborne particles, these scanners can detect traces of narcotics or explosives on a fully-clothed person.
And while the county has entered into talks to resolve the matter out of court, Wojcik said the county is prepared to fight in court.
"We have a strong case. We are going to pursue both the litigation aspect and the mediation aspect and do what we feel best is in the interest of the county and in the best interest of the taxpayers," Wojcik said.
Another settlement conference between the two parties is scheduled next month. We'll let you know the outcome.
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