NCJ Number
133852
Date Published
1991
Length
6 pages
Annotation
Intended for use by police officers, this training guide explains the legal requirements for justifying a strip and body cavity search and the proper procedures to use in conducting such a search of an arrestee who is being booked into temporary police holding holding and jail facilities.
Abstract
The arresting officer should have a major role in determining whether a strip search is necessary to detect and remove any weapons or other contraband. The 1979 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Bell v. Wolfish held that searches can be conducted without probable cause if proper circumstances exist and the search is conducted in a reasonable manner. Reasonable suspicion may be based on a variety of factors including the nature of the offense, the arrestee's appearance and conduct, the circumstances of the arrest, the arrestee's prior record, whether the arrestee will be mingled with the general jail population, and whether reasonable alternatives to a strip search exist. A properly conducted search requires attention to location, privacy, hygiene, and the nature and training of the personnel conducting the search. Step-by-step instructions for conducting a search, review questions and answers, and list of two additional publications regarding searches are included.