strip search

1 STRIPSEARCHES IN PRISON
STRIP SEARCHES PERFORMED
As the US populationis growing into a more diverse society than it was before. There is strong
lawenforcementandabidingbythe majorityof the citizensof the US but when it comes to non-native,
young people, travellers and some addicted lesbians and gays. Due to the multi-cultured country and
because of people fromall partsof the world,itis consideredtobe high-riskareasforcriminal activities
but due to strong law and forces, they can control such issues. There are plenty of ways to search and
treat the criminals who were brought to the police. But the worst of all is the “Strip Search”. Multiple
punishmentscome underthistermandlike makingthemnakedandsearchingunderthe cloths in some
cases this strip search converts into a cavity search of human body parts and some of which includes
private parts and genitals of both men and women.
While some may argue about defending these strip searches they must see the results of
strip-searching is a good thing to the inmate the prisoner. But I argue against the implementation
of these strip-searching and other similar types of acts in the prisons that are associated with the
disrespect of humans. They also sometimes take urine tests and DNA like that. These are mostly
performed with those involved in drugs trafficking and other criminal activities or to inspect
them for the ammunition, drugs and guns. DO you think it is okay to do such inhumane checking
no matter that person has convicted a crime but is it fair to do so? Is this justified by the laws of
the US? There were amendments in the bills despite those revisions strip checking is still in
practice and it is mostly done at the airport's security with the suspected person who could be
involved in drugs and illegal trafficking. Sometimes it is done with the consent of the passenger
and in few cases when they are sure of some issues asks them to partially take off some layers of

fully and checked. All these types of strip searches are a betrayal of a human being if the person
has committed a sin or at fault, it should be treated according to law and doing this misbehaviour
with the prisoners or suspects is not acceptable and it should be ceased to pay some respect to
humanity. How could be the law enforcement departments are authorized to do such
independently or without taking proper permission from the courts? Although the strip
searches performed in the US prison should be ended because the majority of people are
stripped naked just by a police officer of the opposite gender to humiliate the prisoner. The
lawmakers instead of taking a stand against the inhumane act they are passing resolutions
for doing more strip searches and evento the prisoner with small crimes. The situation
becomes worst when these strip searches are done by the opposite genders as we have
plenty of examples present in which the opposite gender officer is found the culprit in
physically assaulting of the prisoner.
It is observed at times when they are unable to perform the strip searches and plenty of
cases aroused in which police officers of both genders were found guilty. They come up with a
new strategy where they ask the suspect or criminal to take a shower in front of them. As in some
cases, it is a requirement but in most, they are just behaving inadequately and to fulfill their
sexual needs. All of these are shameful acts and I openly condemn such punishments and
searching’s in which humans are insulted, raped or abused. There are plenty of other punishment
offers which can be discussed and implemented which at least don’t disrespect human beings.
There are plenty of complaints reported against such acts were reported by the public and many
of the policemen and women were found guilty. A pregnant woman told her story how she was
charged with an offence and taken to the police station and she was told to get naked and there a

male policeman searched her inappropriately while she has not committed any such act and she
became mentally so disturbed that she lost her child due to the trauma she was in for many years.
Similarly a young boy who was in his teens and he was sexually harassed and used by a female
police, the boy went to sever shock and it took years for him to recover and back to life.
According to the reports, there were around 4500 children were stripped searched naked
in 2014, and among them, few claimed to be abused sexually. There are laws on the age of
children and it is in the law regarding child protection and prison act in the US. We have seen
some unforgettable pictures of cells during the Afghan war, we saw images of the prisons and
some leaked footages of prison cells where there was plenty of inhumanity. I am totally against
the continuity of this disrespect, the effects it leaves on a prisoner mind and their whole life
could be disturbed due to such acts. Their crime is something else they deserve punishment not
torture for the lifetime. There are examples of such men and women who after going through
such mental stress and tortures are seen struggling throughout their lives. I believe this should
only be done in the extreme case and with the permission of the law and not publically.
In 2004, photographs leaked from the Abu Ghareeb jails were spread so fast on the
internet and media and the huge reaction came on it when the US forces were torturing and
abusing the prisoners in the Guantanamo be jail where they can be seen naked striping the
prisoners from different countries and mainly from Afghanistan (Phil Scraton and GEORGE).
These prisoners include both men and women. According to the human rights and the physicians
that this is the worst form of the prison inhumane acts and the issue was highlighted and

investigated but of no results in the end. Similarly, after the happening of this incident media
took notice and observed the prisons within the united states and the results were shocking when
they observed similar kind of naked striping is happening in all across the US prisons and mostly
done by the opposite gender police officers to humiliate, torture, instigate and disrespect the
prisoners.
Can anyone believe that? A country who is claiming to be the democratic country,
superpower and having billions of worth with most educated person in a nation is doing such
acts. They should set examples instead so the world may follow and praise their laws and
enforcement of the law. But unfortunately here such brutal activities are in practice and people
are raising their voices after the happening of such incident every month. What are the causes
that no legal action is taken against these wrongdoings? People suffering and will continue to
suffer through these mental and physical tortures (Shuldiner). Due to the increase in such
incidents, people started hating the police department and they openly demand justice for the
prisoners. As the police department is invading someone’s personal and private parts on the
name of strip-searching which is wrong.
There is plenty of strip search procedures used in the US by the police and security staff
and are classified into two different categories that are partial and complete strip search. The
partial search includes the checking that is mostly performed on the airports and the staff asks
almost every person to remove the shoes, socks, coats, jackets and belts mostly and this
procedure is mostly done with the males and females are inspected thoroughly. Wile to the

suspected person the strip search is intense and they were taken to a separate room and told to
undress, shirt, pants, even underwear and bra this naked strip check is done with both genders if
they are suspected guilty of some crime. But this is not the end of the story the inhumane part
starts from here when the person on duty check the private parts of both men and women even in
the mouth, vagina or anus if the victim is suspected involved in drugs and other transportation.
How cruel the world is and where are we heading to. Like you are undressing and disrespecting
to the visitors who came to your country and does this makes any sense? Like why everybody is
experiencing this? Why don’t they check a common person with an ordinary x-ray machine or T
ray scanners? We are living in an era of technology yet we have to go through humiliation to
travel to other destinations? When this is going to stop and why no one talks about the
suspension of the naked strip search and another disrespecting checking.
Another reason why they are doing these acts publically is that in 2012 US Supreme court
has permitted the use of these strip searches for all arrests and even for non-indictable minor
crimes (Logan and Rev). The law that has to control and should take action against this is
supporting this and even for those crimes that deserve a penalty. There are plenty of other
reasons as well that this should end, In the past after the passing of the strip search bill there
happened a heart-wrenching incident with an 8-year-old girl who was raped in the name of a
strip search and it was like the pebble in the river which created the movement and people took a
stand against the law and first success was in Virginia when they discouraged and formally made
a law against the child strip search (News). The Governor of Virginia Mr Northam said he is
very saddened and disturbed after hearing this incident and he took a stand and answered to the
public demand that a legal team investigated the matter and the culprits were caught and

prisoned also the whole department excused and promised that girl to give her the maximum
possible justice. The point is how long we will wait or are we waiting for more incidents to
happen. I believe this is enough now and we have to think seriously over it. There is no need to
keep quiet and remain calm everyone should raise a voice against the injustice.
This “Strip search” word has multiple meanings depending upon the usage either by the
police or administrative forces or lawyers. To understand it better just take a look at it.
According to the administrators, the strip search is typically a search in which they are going to
examine the private parts of the body of that person including hair, mouth, feet, armpits and
groin regions and in case of females her chest and vaginal area as well.
The statutory definition says “many states statutorily define strip searches. The plaintiff in
Stanley v. Henson, 337 F.3d 961 (7th Cor. 2003), pointed to 14 states= definitions, including
Illinois (725 ILL. COMP. STAT. 5/103-1(d)), Florida (F.S.A. ' 901.211), Ohio (R.C.'2933.32)
and Michigan (M.C.L.A. 764.25a). It is imperative to remember that just because a department
or state has a definition, the definition may not be constitutionally appropriate (Petty).”
Whereas the Fourth amendment states that “the term strip search typically refers to a
search that requires exposure of a portion of a person’s body that is ordinarily private. For
Example, one court has stated that Include within the term strip search any exposure or

observation of a portion of a person’s body where that person has a reasonable expectation of
privacy.”
The final reason for making this strip searching end is the heavy damages that a
government pays after the person is removed from the prison and it is estimated to be around 300
Million dollars every year that is spent by the government on the victims who were stripe
searched either naked, vaginal, anal or by any means is like a deep scar on the minds of people,
not every person who is in prison is so strong mentally who bears humiliation, insult, disgrace
and mental torture and still live happily. This is easy to say but hard to overcome and that is why
the majority of the people go through some worst phase of life just because of this shameful act
and this took away their life’s happiness and they try to keep themselves distant from family and
friends. There are special institutes and hospitals that are made and run under the government as
the rehabilitation centers. Hundreds of thousands US residents came here to treat their mental
illness they been through due to these issues faced by them in prison.
I am somewhat convinced with the facts and researches that show and the lawyers who
were involved in attending legal suits for strip-searching of women explained the fact that most
of the women were involved in drug trafficking and they mostly carry it in their vagina and less
number of men and women carry drugs in the anus. These are some issues which can be
addressed and strip-searched and they deserved to be punished not who are punished for small
crimes and this should not be made compulsory by the court to take serious actions against it.
The drug trafficking must be stopped and punished.

All the strip search that is performed legally by the police but this is illegal according to
me and the results of this traumatized situation are very deadly and at the end who has to pay the
loss? Who will get into sufferings? Off course the government, in the end, will first pay for the
legal counsel and later for the recovery treatment of the prisoners (Bozelko). So why is it made
mandatory for everyone who went to prison? Why not the government thinks about these losses?
And the one who suffers is ultimately the people of US and the government of US there must be
a common consensus among the states and the people of the states and then the law and the
enforcement agencies, airport security staff and also those who are involved in it.
I believe there should be a proper law on such issues and proper knowledge is required for
both sectors public and lawmakers. There are a majority of issues are negative that is putting a
bad impression on women, children and men. Not only in the US internationally as well. There
need to be some reforms for the betterment of the system is required. It is the government
responsibility to take care of prisons and the activities happening there. The government should
focus on how to bring the number of crimes down and if criminals are captured how they can be
treated. In my opinion, it is not a wise thing to do at all. They should devise some pans regarding
the use of this act as a punishment. The peacemaking institutions should come forward to help
the people of the US to develop a system that doesn’t disgrace the people. The police should do
their job professionally and keep the name of their department high. People want to feel
protected in their presence and not disturbed or traumatized. Similarly rule of law should be
made strong and every one must follow the law.

Reference List
McCulloch, J., & George, A. (2008). Naked power: Strip searching in women’s prisons. In The violence of
incarceration (pp. 117-133). Routledge.
Newburn, Tim, Michael Shiner, and Stephanie Hayman. "Race, Crime and Injustice? Strip Search and the
Treatment of Suspects in Custody 1." British Journal of Criminology 44.5 (2004): 677-694.
Logan, Wayne A. "Florence v. Board of Chosen Freeholders: Police Power Takes a More Intrusive
Turn." Akron L. Rev. 46 (2013): 413.
“VirginiaBansPrisonStrip-SearchesforChildren.”BBCNews,BBC,6 Dec.2019,
www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-50692437.
Petty, Timothy J. "Safford Unified School District v. Redding and School Strip Searches: Almost, but Not
Quite There Yet." Seton Hall L. Rev. 41 (2011): 427.
Clarke,Matthew.“StripandBody CavitySearches: LookingforContrabandinAll the WrongPlaces:
PrisonLegal News.”Strip and Body Cavity Searches:Looking forContraband in All the Wrong Places|
Prison Legal News, www.prisonlegalnews.org/news/2019/apr/2/strip-and-body-cavity-searches-looking-
contraband-all-wrong-places/.
Bozelko,Chandra.“PrisonStripSearchesAre NotOnlyInhumane-TheyCostTaxpayers$300
Million.”Quartz,Quartz,31 Oct. 2019, qz.com/1738354/inhumane-prison-strip-searches-cost-
taxpayers-300-million/.

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