The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Monday, April 2, 2012, that officials may strip-search people for any offense, however minor, before admitting them to jails, even if the officials have no reason to suspect the presence of contraband. The vote was 5-4. The Supreme Court did not say that strip-searches were required, but that the Fourth Amendment’s prohibition of unreasonable searches did not forbid them.
This means that if you are arrested for an outstanding parking ticket, you can be searched. The ruling was reportedly based upon a case in which Albert Florence was strip-searched twice on a charge he had not paid a fine. He had paid the fine, but that was discovered after he was jailed.
According to a story in the New York Times, Daron Hall, president of the American Correctional Association and sheriff of Davidson County, Tennessee said the association welcomed the flexibility offered by the decision.
My official position on this matter is that without a reasonable cause, it is an unreasonable search. But then, I am opposed to pat-downs at the airport. Although, I do believe some people go to the airport to get a pat-down and never have a ticket to fly.
Who can tell if police and other "officials" will practice strip-searches as routine. There are State and local laws and policies.
I do know that if they start strip-searching grumpy old men, it will only be once. After a peek of a naked grumpy old man, they won’t be able to stand to do another one.
After all the biggest deterrent to sex among seniors is nudity.
PMO
©2011
No comments:
Post a Comment