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CDC to Alter Search Policies
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Win-Win Change for Inmates - and Officers
February 14, 2005 - The Press-Enterprise printed an article this week about the new policy changes that were proposed after a state audit of the department attributed "high recidivism rates, in part, to the corrections department's failure to address the unique problems facing women in prison."
Margot Bach, a spokeswoman for CDC told the Press-Enterprise that out of the 10,800 women currently incarcerated in California prisons "about 57 percent entered the system with a history of sexual abuse." This history of abuse is attributed to the nightmares and post-traumatic stress cases suffered by many female inmates, and because of this abuse, the department has decided to mandate an end to male searches of female inmates.
Anne Ronce, manager of the California Prison Focus Dignity for Women Prisoners campaign said that the change in policy was "commendable" due to the fact that California has more women in prison than other states. "The women who feel abused by the pat searches don't show it," Ronce revealed. "So the average correctional officer doesn't have any idea what it's doing to the woman inmate."
A 42-year-old third-strike offender from CIW named Thompson told reporters, "The officer doesn't have to have any wrong intention in mind. But everyone knows that a lot of the women here have been raped or molested and it's hard for them to be searched by men."
It was refreshing to see that article also pointed out that this policy change would definitely be a relief for male officers who have often reported that they are uncomfortable touching the female inmates.
Lt. Larry Aaron, the spokesman for the California Institution for Women told PE staff, "I think the switch will be good for the security of the prison. The men feel uncomfortable patting down women because of possible allegations of inappropriate touching or patting too hard. I think the women are more thorough in their pat searches and I think the inmates know it and play on it in terms of smuggling contraband. Gender-specific pat searches will send a major signal that they will not be able to get away with it."
Unfortunately, many details will still need to be worked out before the policy change could be implemented, and the state does not yet have a timeline set at this stage of the process.
Source: PE.com
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