Strip Searches at the Allegheny County Jail
The Allegheny County Jail has recently abused the long-standi
ng rule in favor of strip-searching inmates, claiming a security interest exists for such searches. That rule has existed for over a decade based on decisions from the Supreme Court of the United States. Those same rules do not apply for stop-and-frisks outside of the prison walls. In this context, however, Warden Orlando Harper is claiming that chemical-soaked papers were being smuggled into the jail both through general inmate mail and disguised as legal paperwork.
Officer Transparency in Police Misconduct Cases
Timothy P. O’Brien was recently invited by WTAE to discuss police transparency in officer-involved shootings. Our office takes the position that, as a general rule, and as citizens, we are entitled to know what our public servants are doing. Of course, there are exceptions to that general rule, but absolute deference should not be given to our public officials to withhold information. Check out the full-length video here.
http://www.wtae.com/article/officer-involved-shooting-protocol/15888973
ng rule in favor of strip-searching inmates,