A recent incident at the San Francisco County Jail has sparked controversy and outrage after nearly 20 female inmates accused sheriff’s deputies of subjecting them to a mass strip-search in which male officers were present and allegedly filmed the process. The inmates claim that they were forced to strip naked on May 22, with male deputies standing around and making inappropriate comments as body cameras rolled.
According to a complaint from the San Francisco Public Defender’s office, the women were humiliated during the strip-search, forced to bend over, spread their cheeks, and cough, all while male deputies watched and joked about posting the videos online. The lack of privacy was a major concern, as some of the women were strip-searched in full view of prison staff and other inmates. To make matters worse, the women were not provided with clean clothing after the search.
San Francisco Public Defender Manohar Raju condemned the incident, calling it unacceptable and unjust. He held a press conference outside the jailhouse to address the allegations and demand accountability. San Francisco Assistant Sheriff Tanzanika Carter acknowledged that a mass strip search had taken place but claimed that the searches were conducted individually in private spaces. However, she did mention that “personnel action” had been taken in response to the complaint.
The female inmates described a chaotic scene in which armed deputies stormed into their unit, screaming at them to get out of their bunks. They were then dragged in cuffs to different areas of the cellblock and forced to strip down, with some of the searches taking place in open view of guards and other inmates. The women recounted feeling uncomfortable and humiliated, with deputies allegedly giggling and laughing during the process.
The San Francisco Sheriff’s Office has guidelines in place that stipulate strip searches must be conducted out of the view of anyone not involved, and no male staff should be present when female inmates are searched. The private attorney representing the women stated that the city has 45 days to respond to the complaint.
Overall, the incident has raised serious concerns about the treatment of female inmates in the San Francisco County Jail and the need for accountability and transparency within the criminal justice system. It remains to be seen how the city will address these allegations and ensure that proper protocols are followed to prevent similar incidents in the future.
