No one feels comfortable undergoing a full body scan, pat down, and being asked by TSA to remove layers of clothing during a security check at the airport. Still, we accept this because we understand the probative value of safety such checks bring to air travel.
This Wednesday, the US Supreme Court will be hearing a case coming from New Jersey on a single issue: “whether the Fourth Amendment permits a jail to conduct a suspicionless strip search of every individual arrested for any minor offense no matter what the circumstances.”
In this case, two police departments conducted strip searches on everyone who was booked, even if the individual did not actually pose a danger. There was an outstanding warrant for a man’s arrest after the man failed to pay a fine. The man was subject to a strip search and is now arguing that there was no reason to strip search him because his arrest warrant was more akin to civil contempt rather than criminal charges.
Stay tuned -- this case has huge implications on the future of government searches on civilian bodies.
This Wednesday, the US Supreme Court will be hearing a case coming from New Jersey on a single issue: “whether the Fourth Amendment permits a jail to conduct a suspicionless strip search of every individual arrested for any minor offense no matter what the circumstances.”
In this case, two police departments conducted strip searches on everyone who was booked, even if the individual did not actually pose a danger. There was an outstanding warrant for a man’s arrest after the man failed to pay a fine. The man was subject to a strip search and is now arguing that there was no reason to strip search him because his arrest warrant was more akin to civil contempt rather than criminal charges.
Stay tuned -- this case has huge implications on the future of government searches on civilian bodies.
Read a thorough analysis here [scotusblog].
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