LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles County tentatively agreed to pay out $53 million to settle a federal class-action lawsuit brought by women who were subjected to unnecessarily invasive and humiliating strip searches at the Century Regional Detention Center in Lynwood, according to court documents filed Tuesday.
“This proposed class-action settlement represents a significant resolution of a deeply troubling period in which tens of thousands of women were strip-searched — with intrusive methods and inadequate privacy — while they were inmates in the Los Angeles County jail system from March 2008 through January 2015,” according to a county statement.
Authorities halted routine strip searches of women in custody as of April 2016 and now use body scanners in 98% of screenings, according to the statement, which says the county “is profoundly concerned about the practices that gave rise to this lawsuit, and is committed to making sure that reforms instituted by the Sheriff’s Department since 2016 will continue to build a culture that prioritizes safety, dignity and respect for inmates and staff.”
The proposed settlement is still subject to a judge’s approval. Once it is finalized, the county plans to post a class notice on the Sheriff’s Department website with information on how to file a claim.
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved the payout in January during a closed-door meeting and provided no details at the time, beyond a comment by Supervisor Sheila Kuehl that the five-member board was “horrified” by the details of the complaint.
The plaintiffs alleged that strip and body-cavity searches were conducted in groups of up to 60 women crowded together in a bus bay with a roll-up door open to the jail’s reception area where male employees worked. They accused deputies of using obscenities and abusive and demeaning language during the group search.
Some alleged that deputies required inmates to insert their fingers into their mouths after touching other body cavities.
Women searched were required to remove tampons and sanitary napkins and left to bleed onto the ground or themselves until the search was completed.
In 2017, a federal judge ruled that the women’s Fourth Amendment rights had been violated and the parties began mediation.
Kuehl, who is out of the country, provided a statement of her own.
“The long history of strip-searching women at the Century Regional Detention Facility that was brought to light by this case is repugnant and inexcusable,” Kuehl said. “It clearly demonstrated the need for continued reforms and oversight at the L.A. Sheriff’s Department, and underscores the importance of the gender-responsive efforts the county has initiated to create an environment for women in our custody that ensures the safety and dignity of each and every one of them.”
Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas also blasted the searches.
“It is inexcusable that women incarcerated at the Central Regional Detention Facility have been subjected to dehumanizing experiences, enduring humiliating and intrusive body cavity searches and other painful violations while in our custody,” he said in a statement. “Almost half of the women at CRDF are still awaiting trial and have not been convicted of any crime. Often, when they are sentenced, it is for a nonviolent offense. Many have long histories of abuse and trauma. … The county still has a long way to go.”
The strip searches covered by the lawsuit took place largely during former Sheriff Lee Baca’s tenure. Baca resigned in January 2014 and was convicted in 2017 of obstruction of justice and lying to federal investigators in connection with a probe into jail violence.
However, problems continued at the women’s jail, as evidenced by the county’s decision last year to pay out $3.9 million to women who alleged they were sexually assaulted by Deputy Giancarlo Scotti in 2017. Scotti has pleaded not guilty to related felony charges and is awaiting a preliminary hearing to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to proceed to trial.
As for inmate searches, a December report by the Sheriff’s Department on the installation and use of body scanners stated that 8,124 scans were conducted at CRDF in the first nine months of 2018 and not one inmate refused the scanner in favor of a physical search.
However, the “department routinely conducts strip searches of inmate housing locations and inmate personal property during day-to-day operations within all custody facilities to maintain safe jail facilities for inmates and staff, while also removing potentially dangerous contraband” and data on those day-to-day searches is not tracked, according to the report.
The county is continuing to focus on jail reforms, according to its statement.
“We hope that this settlement will help bring healing and closure to the women affected by past practices, even as it underscores our determination to continue on the path of justice system reform,” the county’s statement concluded.
Kuehl also pointed toward the need for more changes.
“Reform, oversight and respect for women are the only way to be sure that such deplorable and odious behavior never occurs again,” Kuehl said.
The Los Angeles Times editorial board said in an opinion published Tuesday morning that the county should have settled earlier.
“Plaintiffs’ lawyers were ready to settle at an earlier date, for a lower amount, when there were fewer class members and less evidence of misconduct. But the county’s lawyers routinely focus too much on fighting legitimate claims and too little on fixing the problems,” the editorial read. “That means more people being needlessly hurt more deeply and more often. And the rest of us paying more because of it.”
Previous related stories:
L.A. County settles another jail sexual assault claim for $950,000
L.A. County Board votes to settle strip search class-action suit
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Joshua Gray says
I was apart of the claim. I was incarcerated in 2013
Talia says
I agree I saw it was there today lynwood has changed there nice now cause they were abusive laughing humilated un dressed us in front of men yell like we’re animals bicthes and just rude made fun of the the women’s that didn’t know English
Sandra Lee Zubek says
I am also a women that was in custody in L.A. Lynnwood jail as well as TwinTowers in that time period. I need contacted. Zubeksandralee1975@gmail.com/ 2062318142 I live in Coeur D Alene Idaho now. Its almost impossible to get to L.A. what do I do?
Alby says
bottom line, most cops are perverted horny pigs that need a good slap in the face(or worse) and a cold shower.
Lillian romero says
I was incarcerated since 2014 to 2015 in lynwood
Denise N Acosta says
I have been incarcerated atleast a dozen times in that time frame and I agree the searches were pretty bad. I would even ask myself “is this legal”. 40 to 50 women being yelled at to bend over open your vagina lips and cough until you’re told to stand up was pretty demeaning and embarrassing. If nobody screwed up we were in and out but if one person screwed up we all suffered and were put in a tank and kept there all night it was ridiculous. You aren’t even treated like a human being More like an animal.
Jerrinique Alexander says
I was apart of that I live thru that for 8 months how do I let them know
Alexis says
Pre-trial detainee’s may NOT be strip searched routinely! That is what was going on in Lynnwood in a most offensive way. This is why L. A. County is going to pay these women that were being abused by sick CO’s.
Sandra Zubek says
Thank you. Its wrong. My 4th amme dment rights were violated. I didnt deserve that because I was in custody! Appreciate your opinion
Tom says
Every jail and prison in America and most countries do strip and cavity searches. Why does this state and our county have to be different in the most dumbfounded ways. Searching one keeps officers and prisoners safe, keeps drugs, cell phones out. Now someone is going to sue for the body scanns, because its personal. We give criminals way too much authority I see a lawsuit for the meals coming la county jails will have a staff from Wolfgang Puck in the near future.
Tim Scott says
Been in them all, have you Tom?
For the record, the lawsuit wasn’t about the FACT of strip searches, it was about the PROCESS of strip searches. Find out the issue before you comment Tom, lest you appear to be an uninformed jackass.
Alexis says
Tom, I was a pre-trial detainee, and I know what goes on in Lynnwood. I’m not seeking a settlement, but I am glad to see these women getting a settlement. All the injustice I have witnessed is beyond comprehension to those that haven’t lived it.
Cher says
It was inhumane we had to open up private parts pull out tampons also they handed us a kit to test for STDs where we had to stick a qtip into private parts in front of everyone. There was also women who refused and were treated horribly having to sit on the bench for hours and hours.
Jan johnson says
I was stripped searched at that time period at Lynnwood how do I collect?
Tom says
You don’t get crap you did a crime and part of the system was to ensure you were not bringing weapons or drugs in because you could not be trusted. Don’t commit a crime and you won’t have to worry about strip searches.
Cher says
People are sent to jail before conviction so get your s*** straight Tom. A lot of these women can’t afford bond or a lawyer while awaiting their court date. Tom deserves a mouth full.
Mars says
Dear Tom
I wait for the day you get locked up for just looking at a cop the wrong way and see how your body search goes..Did nothing extra come up behind you?
Alby says
I think Tom along with the other deputies love looking at people naked and the only way they can do so is by force while having a self-righteous demenour that they are the law and this needs to be done. Is tom and the others aware that there are Adult websites for them to endevour in their perverted desires. I guess these unnecessary cavity searches are like viagra or cialis for these hot headed limp perverts. I refused to strip down in front of a bunch of deputies before and they stripped me down by force and opened my legs while making crude comments. I kept repeating one of their badge numbers in effort to remember it in the future to make a complaint so they started to choke me out and tell me not to look at them. So I have a damn good idea of how perverted these law hobos can be and I look forward to the day that they end up in a wheelchair with their dignity and manhood stripped away. I’ll be one of the many laughing away. Until such wonderful day of justice occurs, these perverted law hobos are gonna continue to be perverted truffle pigs up in other peoples junk. Its funny and pathetic how they hide in a hole when they’re off duty because deep down in their perverted hearts, they know what they have coming to them. Perverts.
Gladys says
Amen
LACSD Frisk Supervisor says
This is just one portion of Lee Baca’s legacy.