Children Strip-Searched At New Philadelphia Family Courthouse

[Suzanimal]

Is this what we've become? SMH...

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Multiple sources involved in cases in Philadelphia Family Court say sheriff’s deputies improperly strip-searched juveniles in both criminal and DHS custody cases who were appearing at the court for hearings earlier this week.

And once court administrators discovered what was going on, they put a stop to it.

According to multiple sources, juveniles in county custody for both criminal and non-criminal matters who were making courtroom appearances at the new Family Courthouse, at 15th and Arch Streets, were first strip-searched by sheriff’s deputies as a security measure all day Monday of this week and possible part of Tuesday.

These sources say the searches occurred individually and in small groups, and that the juveniles were asked to remove all their clothes, to squat, and to cough.

Multiple sources tell KYW Newsradio that the juveniles complained about the practice and, when court administration learned what was going on, administrative judge Kevin Dougherty put a stop to it.

The new courthouse officially opened on Monday.

A spokesman for Philadelphia Family Court issued a statement today that said, “On Tuesday morning of this week, in response to concerns raised by child advocates over allegations of strip searches of juveniles, the leadership of Philadelphia Family Court directed the Sheriff’s Office to cease and desist all strip searches pending further notice. Today, Family Court issued new rules governing the screening and detention of juveniles that the Court developed in collaboration with the Sheriff’s Office.”

Our sources were unable to say how many juveniles were searched and/or whether any practice of this sort was in place at the old courthouse.
But they did tell us that not all of the young people searched were in custody on a criminal matter — some were in group homes and others in dependency care because their parents were in custody.

The sources said the main concern of adults who complained about the procedures was ongoing traumatization of the children, since some of these juveniles may have already been victims of physical, sexual, or other abuse.

http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/201...ly-courthouse/

[aGameOfThrones]

for the children....

[SeanTX]

Goons are gonna goon ... and creeps are gonna creep. Except in the rare instances where a judge gives some adult supervision and puts a stop to it.

[staerker]

State sanctioned child molestation. This is America, people.

[oyarde]

Sick mother $#@!ers.

[Suzanimal]

Children, some as young as 11 years old, were strip searched by officers in front of other people in a courthouse this week, according to reports. Many of the children were told to squat down and cough, as they were watched by strangers.

http://filmingcops.com/cops-strippin...own-in-public/

[amy31416]

My god, that's some serious trauma to these poor kids. How could they?

[euphemia]

I think this should be the first they ask kids when they appear in court. "Is there anything you would like to say to the court about how your case has been handled?"

[jmdrake]

Parent takes a picture of kid in bathtub....call in CPS.

LEOs strip search kids....give them a promotion.

[tod evans]

These are the same folks who grab power chanting "It's for the children".......

[moostraks]

Remove all their clothes, squat, and cough, and some were not there for criminal matters. Smh. Even with a criminal history, children should not be subjected to such treatment. And they don't know how long this was policy? WTH!?! This is heartbreaking to realize what level of atrocities are being committed by taxpayer funded employees against children. Why the hell didn't any of the adults being asked to perform these searches question the practice loudly and publicly? Why was it left to the children to bring the situation to someone else's attention?

It is something that will stick in the back of the children's' minds for a long, long time to come. There will be more than one that will likely come away from the experience feeling as though in some part they were responsible for being treated like they were because of their social status and the predicament of their current circumstances. Good thing some of them complained enough to bring attention to this practice.

[Anti Federalist]

Just another day in the Soyuz.

[FindLiberty]

They have gone F'n insane!

"Family Court - Doin' things even Hitler would never have thought of doing."

I hope their gloved cavity penetration pervert deputy at least had small fingers
and changed his gloves every few days ...for that entire week.

When is enough going to be enough?

[presence]

sheriff’s deputies improperly strip-searched juveniles

...and are facing child abuse charges? Sexual assault charges? Improper conduct under the color of law?

???



Maybe just suspended without pay? Can we at least get that?

[Anti Federalist]

When is enough going to be enough?

Never, apparently.

A society that tolerates this will, pretty much, tolerate anything.

[tod evans]

...and are facing child abuse charges? Sexual assault charges? Improper conduct under the color of law?

???



Maybe just suspended without pay? Can we at least get that?

Surely you jest?

[phill4paul]

juveniles were asked to remove all their clothes, to squat, and to cough..