Blihovde v St. Croix County, Wisconsin
Arrestees Reach $7 Million Settlement with St. Croix County, WI in Strip Search Action
The parties have reached a tentative settlement of nearly $7 million in an action filed against St. Croix County, Wisconsin, and several individual defendants on behalf of prisoners who were strip-searched in the county's jail between 1996 and 2001. The action alleged that the county's strip-search policy violated the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which protects against unreasonable searches. Persons who are eligible to participate in the settlement should contact class counsel for more information.
The action alleged that until February 2001, all individuals booked into the jail were subjected to a search of their genitals and buttocks. For women, the search included their breasts. The searches began under former Sheriff Paul Burch and ended in February 2001 when current Sheriff Dennis Hillstead revised the policy to comply with state law. Wisconsin law allows strip-searches for detainees convicted of weapons offenses or who are believed to be carrying contraband, such as drugs, Hillstead said. It generally does not allow searches for people suspected of misdemeanors. It is estimated that claimants will receive cash payments of approximately $3,000 to $3,500. Payments will vary depending on a variety of factors, including whether the claimant was a juvenile when searched.
Many cities and states have made similar settlements in recent years, including New York City, which paid $50 million to settle a lawsuit after jail guards in Queens and Manhattan conducted strip-searches of people charged with minor infractions.
The settlement will not be effective until the court grants it final approval. The court has not yet scheduled a hearing on the matter.
