Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site abnji.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxt!mhuxv!abnji!nyssa
From: nyssa@abnji.UUCP (nyssa of traken)
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Re: a good example
Message-ID: <835@abnji.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 29-Aug-85 07:31:14 EDT
Article-I.D.: abnji.835
Posted: Thu Aug 29 07:31:14 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 31-Aug-85 03:28:52 EDT
References: <4229@alice.UUCP>
Organization: Terminus Hospital, Incorporated
Lines: 37

>I saw a news article today about a woman who was strip-searched
>for a dog license violation, and was all set to be incensed until
>I read further.
>	[ ... ]
>At the station, further checking disclosed that she had been arrested
>on drug charges twelve years earlier.  The police department has a
>standing policy in that town: if someone is arrested who has ever
>before been arrested on drug charges, the prisoner is strip-searched
>for concealed drugs.
>
>Now, I'm not going to try to argue about whether this particular
>policy is right or wrong 

I am.

>			   -- I can see arguments on both sides.
>Rather,  I am presenting this article as a warning against
>jumping to conclusions.  The situation described in the first paragraph
>is utterly absurd.  Once the facts are known, the situation becombs
>at least plausible, at least if you take the view that not
>showing up for a court date is a much more severe offense than
>not registering a dog.

What is absurd here is that the police in that town have taken the
Gallic view of justice, "guilty until proven innocent".  Note that
the woman only had to be arrested on drug charges; even if she was
acquitted on all charges facing her by a jury of her peers, she would
still be subjected to that type of humiliating search.  I would submit
that that type of search without a warrant would therefore violate
the unreasonable search and seizure amendment of our Constitution.
-- 
James C. Armstrong, Jnr.	{ihnp4,cbosgd,akgua}!abnji!nyssa

"If she doesn't scream, the wedding can take place!" Doctor
"Don't I have a say in the matter?" female companion
"Be quiet" Doctor
Which companion, what story?