Handcuffed in Capitol
A bill that would expand the circumstances under which someone in police custody can be strip searched is headed to Governor Scott Walker’s desk. Under current law a person has to be facing detainment of at least 12 hours before police can conduct a strip search.
The bill reverses a bipartisan move from the last legislative session that established the 12-hour wait. Jim Palmer with the Wisconsin Professional Police Association said that requirement was taxing the resources of many departments. “Most county sheriff’s departments and smaller agencies simply didn’t have the space where they could seperate each person they felt needed that type of search for a 12 hour period of time,” Palmer said.
Palmer said the change will be in the best interests of law enforcement personnel and people being held in jail.