Are there any general rules which apply to all strip and body cavity searches of arrested persons?
What factors are used to determine when officers can do a strip or body cavity search of an arrested person? When can officers do a strip search of an arrested person? What are some examples of strip searches that the courts have said were improper? Are greater reasons needed to do a body cavity search than a strip search? What should an agency policy cover? Conclusion Introduction To search or not to search is a question that continues to trouble law enforcement agencies. Over the past several years, there has been an explosion of lawsuits against agencies claiming that their searches of arrested persons were improper. The majority of these lawsuits involve strip searches and body cavity searches. This Alert bulletin discusses what kinds of searches are allowed, the permissible scope of such searches, and civil liability for improper searches. This Alert bulletin is limited to searches of arrested persons and hopefully will assist agencies in developing search policies. Different rule
