Rights stripped away

A group of inmates complained to us that correctional services staff conducted a strip search without any privacy – they said they were forced to strip in front of one another and in view of correctional staff and cameras.

RESULT: We reviewed the incident and confirmed that the facility did not follow proper privacy procedures. We raised the matter with the superintendent, who shared a directive to ensure staff were trained – or retrained – on how to do searches in accordance with policy/procedure guidelines. The facility also changed its procedures to ensure searches take place in designated areas with privacy screens.