Federal judge rules Beaufort County was legally responsible in strip search class action

A federal judge found that Beaufort County was legally responsible for strip searching every woman who entered its jail for five years, paving the way for a potentially hefty liability bill footed by local taxpayers. From 2015 to 2020, a policy implemented by longtime detention center Director Quandara Grant led every woman who entered the jail to receive a strip search, irrespective of their crime or whether they were suspected of smuggling contraband. During the same time, men were selectively subjected to the invasive search. U.S. District Judge David Norton ruled the county was responsible for the practice because Grant was the final policymaker for its jail. A trial for the class-action lawsuit would ultimately determine if the practice was unconstitutional and what the county may need to pay in damages. The favorable ruling gives the plaintiffs added leverage in potential negotiations. A settlement for the case could ultimately be hefty, as Boston and Suffolk County agreed to pay $10 million after similar violations. The county faces an additional challenge in a potential settlement negotiation because they do not know how much the state insurance agency will cover. The county and the Insurance Reserve Fund are locked in a state court battle over its annual $1 million insurance policy.

(Source：Charleston Post and Courier)