Case Details for "Hidalgo County "

New Mexico's Hidalgo County has agreed to a $1 million settlement in a federal class-action lawsuit alleging that certain detainees at the county detention center were routinely strip-searched without a legal basis

New Mexico's Hidalgo County has agreed to a $1 million settlement in a federal class-action lawsuit alleging that certain detainees at the county detention center were routinely strip-searched without a legal basis.

U.S. District Judge Judith C. Herrera granted preliminary approval to the settlement agreement between two named plaintiffs, John Luke Shannon and John Madrid, and Hidalgo County commissioners on Dec. 30.

The plaintiffs alleged the strip searches, previously carried out on all pre-arraignment detainees, were unlawful because they were conducted without a reasonable suspicion that specific detainees possessed hidden weapons or contraband. About 700 people per year may have been strip-searched.

Hidalgo County denied that all incoming pre-arraignment detainees were subjected to strip searches and contended its search policies were legitimate. The detention center's strip-search policy was changed March 19, 2008, about five weeks after the lawsuit was filed.

A similar settlement was reached with Dona Ana County in 2007 pursuant to a class-action lawsuit alleging illegal strip searches at the county detention center.

The class includes anyone arrested on charges not involving violence, drugs or weapons between April 7, 2005, and Nov. 6, 2008, who were strip-searched without reasonable suspicion at the Hidalgo County Detention Center prior to arraignment.

Posted on:2009-01-22
Company: Hidalgo County
Class: The class includes anyone arrested on charges not involving violence, drugs or weapons between April 7, 2005, and Nov. 6, 2008, who were strip-searched without reasonable suspicion at the Hidalgo County Detention Center prior to arraignment
Scope: Nationwide
Type of Case: Constitutional
Settlement Administrator:

http://www.shannonvhidalgocounty.com/

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