Thursday, May 20, 2010

Improper Strip Searches = A Slap on the Wrist

The GEO Group just settled a lawsuit regarding its improper strip-searches of thousands of low-level offenders in mutliple jails. 10,000 prisoners over the course of just 2 years were improperly strip-searched, many of whom were incarcerated for relatively minor offenses such as DUI. Apparently, women were essentially herded into large rooms and strip-searched in front of groups of other arrestees. Unfortunately for the victims, The GEO Group's legal team somehow managed to limit the damage to the company, with the group only shelling out $2.9 million in the settlement. That breaks down to about $400 per person. Just once, I'd like to see a court step up and slam these despicable companies with a legitimate penalty for even one of the myriad abuses they inflict on the poor souls who enter their facilities.

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