Galt's Gulch

WTH, 'Sheriff’s Deputies Force Children to Strip, Squat and Cough at Philadelphia Court'

Posted by Zenphamy 10 years, 5 months ago to Government
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From the article:
"Deputies with the Philadelphia Police Department reportedly strip-searched minors who were making appearances for hearings at the Philadelphia Family Courthouse

CBS Philadelphia reports that multiple sources state sheriff’s deputies ordered juveniles in county custody to “remove all their clothes, to squat, and to cough.” The searches happened individuals and in small groups.
....
As CBS notes, “not all of the young people searched were in custody on a criminal matter” and some had been the victims of physical, sexual, or emotional abuse."

You think this might be a little bit of over-reach?

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  • Posted by wiggys 10 years, 5 months ago
    is that the law? if so those who administer it and obviously do not use common sense are the ones to be concerned about immediately. as for those who made the law they have to be ridiculed as if it would do any good.
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    • Posted by XenokRoy 10 years, 5 months ago
      I suspect this is not restricted to Philly. While this is a more extreme example the government and law are overstepping boundaries to the point of us being there property on many levels in many areas of the country.

      This is yet another example of many I have seen posted here.
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  • Posted by Kerryo 10 years, 5 months ago
    My first reaction is that there is more to this story. Yes, it appears to be absolutely wrong. The question is, why did the court and sheriff's office even go this route? What happened that even started the conversation? As always, safety is the sanctioning of restrictions of freedom depending on the intensity of the threat. How intense was the threat? The article conveniently (or lazily) doesn't say.

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    • Posted by Zenphamy 10 years, 5 months ago
      I've got a feeling this was about more than safety, it's deputies with power complexes and 'us against them.' They only did it for two days until children advocates found out about the practice and told the judge who then instructed the deputies that there were other ways, than strip, bend, squat, and cough - at least for children.

      Bureaucrats - Blaaahhh. Control freaks. Safety is common sense. There's a point in life at which listening to stupid really isn't gainful.
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    • Posted by CircuitGuy 10 years, 5 months ago
      "My first reaction is that there is more to this story."
      It would be interesting to hear the parts of the story that make us say, 'Oh, well then that sounds perfectly normal then.'
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      • Posted by Kerryo 10 years, 5 months ago
        I'm not sure that "perfectly normal" is the response we are looking for. But when it comes to safety I think many people can think of things that could make the actions justified in the minds of the courts and law enforcement. When you deal with violent people, no matter how old they are, you get a little paranoid and may think that any action to protect your safety could be supported by the law and/or the community. Some of us believe that safety at any cost is not truly safe but is actually giving up our responsibility and forgetting that all of us are at risk when we walk out our doors every morning.

        My point is that the "reporting" is incomplete at best and irresponsible at worst. The point of the story was to get a reaction, not report the facts as far as I can tell. Perhaps you see it differently.
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        • Posted by $ jlc 10 years, 5 months ago
          I agree. I doubt that there is an explanation that would make this story "OK"; there may be an explanation that would make this report humanly understandable.

          Jan
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          • Posted by Zenphamy 10 years, 5 months ago
            I doubt the "humanly understandable". More likely the bureaucratically assertive power understandable.
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            • Posted by $ jlc 10 years, 5 months ago
              I AM MAKING THIS UP.

              How about, "Police deputies enforced bizarre strip-search protocols amongst minors after an outbreak of fights involving boxknives hidden in bodies cavities cause numerous injuries and hospitalizations amongst fellow juveniles in the courtroom. Apparently, a local gang has been training their members in this manner of concealment. Three juveniles were hospitalized, one in serious condition; one officer was treated for lacerations on the arms."

              Would something like that make it "humanly understandable" as opposed to bureaucratic?

              Jan, blessed with an ample imagination
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              • Posted by $ root1657 10 years, 5 months ago
                More likely that someone got caught bringing drugs in using a child, then passing them to someone in custody, who would then manage to get them to the prisoners in lockup.
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