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| Department Accused Of Needless Strip Searches |
| By WXXA-TV |
| Published: 07/02/2004 |
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Last week, a class-action lawsuit was filed against the Schenectady (N.Y.) Sheriff's Department on behalf of two women who say they were searched after being arrested for shoplifting. On July 11, 19 year-old Nicole Daniel and 18 year-old Lessie Davies were at the Rotterdam Square Mall. Accused of the misdemeanor crime of shoplifting, the two were arrested, brought to the Schenectady County Jail, and then, according to attorney Bob Keach, strip-searched without cause. Keach says, "The lawsuit alleges that during the course of clothing change at the Schenectady county jail, the Schenectady county corrections officers that were booking individuals into the facility forced detainees to undergo a strip search meaning a visual inspection of their naked body and a visual inspection of their body cavities which would involve individuals having to bend and manipulate their body parts." In 2001, federal Judge Thomas McAvoy ruled strip searches by the city of Schenectady were only necessary for those accused of misdemeanors if there was probable cause of a weapon or contraband. Keach says neither were a factor here. Schenectady Sheriff Harry Buffardi says though his department's policy is to limit strip searches for those accused of misdemeanors and for those accused of more serious crimes. "It includes even felons," says Buffardi. "If there's no indication there might be a possibility of contraband, we don't search them routinely." Sheriff Buffardi says he's already begun an internal investigation into the matter. If the allegations turn out to be true, Buffardi says he will act. |
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