"In September, sheriff's deputies began routinely strip-searching people being held in the San Francisco jail after they met with their attorneys. The sheriff's department described this change as the implementation of a long-standing city policy that allows the department to strip-search an inmate after every in-person visit in order to stem the flow of contraband like drugs, cell phones and weapons."
"Public defenders and private defense attorneys raised concerns that the strip-searches were already having a "chilling" effect on clients seeking their constitutional right to legal counsel. In particular, they worried about people with a history of trauma or physical abuse. Defense attorneys with the Bar Association of San Francisco contacted the sheriff's attorney. The American Civil Liberties Union sent a letter to Sheriff Paul Miyamoto (citing, in part, Mission Local's reporting) that urged Miyamoto to reconsider the practice."
In September, sheriff's deputies began routinely strip-searching people held in the San Francisco jail after in-person meetings with their attorneys. The sheriff's department described the practice as enforcement of a long-standing city policy allowing a strip-search after every visit to stem contraband like drugs, cell phones and weapons. Attorneys, people in custody, and jail staff said they had never seen the practice before. Public defenders and private attorneys warned the searches chilled access to legal counsel, particularly for people with trauma histories. After complaints from the Bar Association and the ACLU, deputies will use body scanners after attorney visits instead of forced undressing. The sheriff's legal counsel said the change aimed to protect due process rights; strip-searches may follow scanners if necessary, and body-cavity searches will occur only if scanners reveal contraband inside a cavity.
Read at Mission Local
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