SAN ANTONIO --Strip-searches used to be the norm for thousands entering the Bexar County jail. Now, there’s a proposed windfall for those who were incarcerated.
A federal judge is expected to sign off on a $4.5 million dollar settlement. And you may be eligible for some of it.
Court decisions across the nation have shown the practice to be unconstitutional when it comes to strip searches for misdemeanor crimes. That prompted Bexar County commissioners to avoid a court battle.
Bexar County spokesperson Laura Jesse said, “The reason that everyone entering the adult detention center had a visual strip search performed is for the safety of the jail staff and the other inmates, making sure that people coming into the jail aren’t bringing any sort of contraband.”
Julia Jackson was arrested on a warrant for driving with an invalid license in 2007. She heads up the class-action lawsuit that’s been given conditional approval by U.S. District Judge Fred Biery.
Jackson’s attorney, Sam Lock, said his client’s search was uncomfortable and unconstitutional.
“Sometimes people come to accept this stripping away of dignity in certain aspects of society. We’re glad to be able to stand up and say, no. Let’s restore a little dignity to the process,” Lock said.
Attorneys said some 30,000 misdemeanants who were detained in the pokey in the last several years could get settlements of up to $1,000.
Jesse said Bexar County has already changed its strip-search policy.
Only detainees charged with felony crimes or those suspected of having contraband will continue to be searched.
To qualify for $100-$1,000 in settlement money, claimants had to have been incarcerated for misdemeanor crimes in the Bexar County jail between Nov 15, 2005 and April 9, 2009 and were strip searched.
You have until March 16, 2011 to submit a claim.
To qualify, claim forms are available at bexarcountystripsearch.com.
If you are unsure, you can call toll free 1-888-448-2130.
