TNC
07-14-2005, 11:14 PM
July 14, 2005 5:33 PM
The Associated Press
NEW YORK New York City says it will stop coercing female jail inmates to undergo gynecological exams.
In response to a class action lawsuit, the city agreed to begin informing women inmates they have the right to refuse the exams without retaliation.
The plaintiffs' lead attorney says the city for years had told every woman admitted to Rikers Island that she had to undergo a pelvic exam, a Pap smear and a breast exam or move into isolation.
The lawyer says the gynecological exams were not meant to protect other female inmates, and were medically unnecessary in many cases. He says women inmates did not know they had the right to refuse.
Also, the city agreed to pay millions of dollars to people strip-searched in jail after arrests on suspicion of misdemeanor charges or minor violations.
The Associated Press
NEW YORK New York City says it will stop coercing female jail inmates to undergo gynecological exams.
In response to a class action lawsuit, the city agreed to begin informing women inmates they have the right to refuse the exams without retaliation.
The plaintiffs' lead attorney says the city for years had told every woman admitted to Rikers Island that she had to undergo a pelvic exam, a Pap smear and a breast exam or move into isolation.
The lawyer says the gynecological exams were not meant to protect other female inmates, and were medically unnecessary in many cases. He says women inmates did not know they had the right to refuse.
Also, the city agreed to pay millions of dollars to people strip-searched in jail after arrests on suspicion of misdemeanor charges or minor violations.