Find an article regarding bell v wolfish in print or Internet regarding prisoner rights. Summarize the article, relate the article to a court decision, and then provide your opinion on both the article and court decision (400 words)
- Case occurred at a federal detention center; dealt with various constitutional claims, including two search issues
• Searches of inmate living quarters
• Visual strip searches
- Most inmates at the detention center were unconvicted, confined while awaiting trial
- Prison staff conducted random, "unannounced" searches of inmate living quarters
• Inmates usually would be removed from the living area during the search
- Inmates complained cell left in needless disarray, and on occasion items were damaged or destroyed
• Asked to be present during search
-Prison officials opposed
• Said it would lead to friction between inmates and staff
• Would allow inmates to attempt to frustrate search by distracting staff and moving contraband from one room to another ahead of the search team
- Supreme Court held an inmate has no right to be present during cell search
• Room searches represent an appropriate security measure
• Room search rule facilitates safe and effective performance of the search.