Return to Transcripts main page
American Morning
Strip Search Controversy in Washington
Aired May 25, 2001 - 11:17 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Authorities in Washington are investigating a controversy involving some students and a local jail. Last week, a group of middle school students visited the jail as part of an in-school suspension program. They were forced to strip and they were searched. Now, some jail guards and school employees have been put on leave because of that incident.
We are going to get more now on the story from reporter Phyllis Armstrong. She's with our affiliate WUSA.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PHYLLIS ARMSTRONG, WUSA REPORTER (voice-over): This mother's son took that jail tour this month. She and another parent say they are angry. They called the strip-searching of their sons wrong, and so does Superintendent Paul Vance.
PAUL VANCE, SUPERINTENDENT: I felt horrible. Our entire school system is being victimized because of this incident. And the necessity to have a press briefing on this one issue reinforces what a lot of folks would like to think and believe about our school system.
ARMSTRONG: Sources tell Eyewitness News that May 17 was not the first time Evans Middle School students underwent strip searches at the D.C. jail. The head of corrections for the city says putting minors through that kind of procedure is not a normal part of the school tours that have been conducted since 1989.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sometimes in our business, employees make very bad judgments. Sometimes employees do the wrong thing. Sometimes employees violate the rules and regulations. And when that happens, we take appropriate actions.
ARMSTRONG (on camera): Three Corrections Department workers and two employees from Evans Middle School have been placed on administrative leave with pay. Investigators are looking at the possibility that up to nine students were strip searched on May 17. And they're also looking into what happened to girls the next day.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My daughter told me that when they got to the jail, they handcuffed them and everything.
ARMSTRONG (voice-over): Eight counselors were sent to Evans to talk to parents and students. But some parents are thinking about suing.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN: And that report coming to us from Phyllis Armstrong from WUSA. Joining us now from Washington to talk more about this controversial strip search program, Justin Blum, a reporter with the "Washington Post." He and a colleague broke the story -- Justin, thanks for joining us this morning.
JUSTIN BLUM, REPORTER, "WASHINGTON POST": Thanks for having me.
KAGAN: First, explain to us exactly what happened to these kids when they went to jail and why they are part of this program in the first place.
BLUM: Well, there were about 12 students as we understand it who went to the jail last week accompanied by a teacher and an in-school suspension officer.
KAGAN: So these kids had gotten into trouble before.
BLUM: They had misbehaved in some way in school.
KAGAN: Was this like a scared straight kind of program, what could happen to you if you stay on this path?
BLUM: That was apparently what the counselor had told the students. But it wasn't part of an organized program.
BLUM: So they go to this jail. And what happens?
BLUM: They went on the jail. They toured different parts of the jail. And at some point on the tour, they were told by the corrections officers to take off their clothes. Some of them apparently did so after being told. Others took off some articles of clothing, and the corrections officers apparently took off the rest.
KAGAN: First heard about this story yesterday, but now it's coming out that actually these strip searches were even more intrusive than originally thought.
BLUM: That's correct. The students are saying they were forced to bend over and open their mouths during the strip-searching.
KAGAN: Is this part of a regular practice? Have a number of kids being going through this over the months?
BLUM: The jail says that a number of kids routinely come there on tours. It's part of a civics lesson and also as a way to deter crime. But the strip search is not, the jail says, a routine part of the tour.
However, students from the same school had previously visited in April. And our story today says that one of the students from a previous trip is now telling authorities that he too had been strip- searched. KAGAN: And this is leading to a possible civil rights investigation?
BLUM: The FBI is currently investigating to see if any of the students' civil rights were violated. In addition, the school system and corrections officials also are looking into it.
KAGAN: And I would imagine for now visits to the jail by students not happening?
BLUM: The Corrections Department and the city have suspended all of the jail tours. And they're reviewing the policy about which students should go to the jail and whether the tours will continue in the future.
KAGAN: Justin Blum from the "Washington Post." If you're interested, you can see more of his article in today's edition. Thanks for joining us. We appreciate it.
BLUM: Thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
