Erath County Jail terminates male employee who strip-searched female inmate.
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The Texas Commission on Jail Standards issued a notice on March 11 that the Erath County Jail was in non-compliance after jail officials self-reported that a male staff member had strip-searched a female inmate twice on Feb. 24.
The violation, outlined in 265.2 (b), states that all strip searches “shall be conducted by jailer(s) or designated staff of the same gender in a reasonable and dignified manner and place.”
Erath County Sheriff Matt Coates told Beneath the Surface News that the department is not hiding the violation.
“It happened,” Coates said. “It was investigated and the sergeant lost their job over it.”
On March 31, the commission issued the Erath County Jail a certificate of compliance after the violation was addressed and corrected.
A former Erath County jailer called the violation “shocking.”
“I don’t know how it is now, but 10 years ago, there had to be probable cause to strip search someone for drugs or weapons.
“There had to be at least one female or male jailer on duty at all times. If not, in an extreme circumstance, we had to contact a deputy or dispatcher of the same sex to perform the search.
“A jailer by themselves just couldn’t decide to strip search without a supervisor’s permission.
“There were so many rules in place that there was no way this could happen.”
Captain Jeremy Lanier with the Stephenville Police Department said a female officer with the SPD made the initial arrest, charging the suspect with possession of methamphetamine.
“When our officer arrived at the jail, she advised the (male) jail sergeant that a more thorough search needed to be performed,” Lanier said.
About a year ago, the ECSO purchased a body scanner, which is used to detect drugs or weapons hidden on an inmate’s person.
“If nothing is detected, there is never a strip search,” Chief Deputy Tye Box said.
“If the scan shows something hidden inside the body, we take the inmate to the hospital to have it removed.
“In this case, the female inmate was scanned and nothing was detected, but the police officer still requested a strip search.”
Following the second search, there was still nothing detected on the inmate.
After learning about the violation the following day, jail officials conducted an investigation and terminated the sergeant who performed the search.
The female officer was not terminated.
“The strip search should never have been conducted,” Coates said.
“It was a violation of our policy.”
