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County dismissed from Iowa strip search lawsuits

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November 14th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Woodbury County and its former sheriff have been dismissed from two federal lawsuits filed by women who claim their civil rights were violated at the county jail and they were given unlawful strip searches. U.S. District Judge Mark W. Bennett says in his recent rulings that the county did not have a policy in place that violated the rights of the women. He also ruled that they were not given strip searches because their bodies were not inspected.

The Sioux City Journal reports excessive force and retaliation claims against some jailers are essentially all that remain in the suits. The women claim officers assaulted and injured them by forcefully removing their clothing for jail-issued clothing.

The county says the women were disruptive and officers followed policy.