In class, we have explored cases involving the Fourth Amendment, and the right to protect against illegal search and seizure. Today, Virginia has suspended a rule allowing children to be strip-searched before jail visits after an eight-year-old girl was forced to be searched. The incident took place on 24 November at the Buckingham Correctional Center in the town of Dillwyn, Virginia. The girl, who has not been named, had traveled more than two hours to visit her jailed father. She traveled with her father's girlfriend, Diamond Peerman. They were singled out to be searched after a sniffer dog alerted guards, and were warned that if they did not agree they could be banned from the prison. She had to be checked and searched for weapons or substances before being allowed to enter. Virginia Department of Corrections spokeswoman Lisa Kinney said in a statement before the governor's announcement that "the staff member who authorized the search... didn't have the authority to do so", and would be subjected to disciplinary action.
After the incident, her mother talked to the girl about the incident:
"Did they make you take your pants off?" her mum asked.
"Yes all of my clothes off," she responded.
The girl's mother says her daughter has a good relationship with her father due to frequent visits, but the latest left her "traumatized". She also said that the girl will not be visiting her father again due to the incident.
Prisons are common places for people to smuggle contraband into, but this case crosses the line. After reading this I am curious. Do all prisons require children strip searches? Strip searches are more than just a measly pat-down. Strip searches can leave traumatizing effects, especially for children. The girl was scarred from the event and doesn't even want to visit her father anymore. It was a complete violation of her privacy. I believe that children should not be subjected to strip searches in any situation. Are there other effective methods of searching?
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-50692437
I think that due to the amounts of children under 18 that are becoming involved in criminal activity that it may be important to change the rule instead of banning it altogether. One thing that could be suggested is a change on the age of being allowed to search. Instead of it being 18 it could be fair to change it to 15. Another thing that could be done is having the person being search change into a robe type wear as the police look through their clothes. I do not think that it is a ok a strip a kid down to search them but in some cases it could be important.
ReplyDelete