Two women have filed a lawsuit against the Blair County Prison, accusing multiple staff members of violating their civil rights by forcing them to partially undress in front of male staff after the women reportedly set off the metal detectors inside the facility.
According to the 77-page lawsuit, the complaints stem from two alleged incidents, in September of 2023, in which the women arrived at the prison, at separate times, for work-related matters.
The federal lawsuit alleges that both women were forced to remove their bras, and then carry them around the prison, after the underwire inside their undergarments reportedly set off the facility’s metal detectors.
The first woman, identified as a case manager, who was reportedly there to meet with one of the prisoners, claims that a Sergeant on staff initially told her to remove her sweatshirt after the detector went off.
When the detector was triggered a second time, the lawsuit claims that the woman was then forced to remove her bra due to its underwire.
Approximately 15 minutes later, the second woman, identified as a member of the prison nursing staff, claims that she had a similar experience with being forced to remove her bra.
In both incidents, the women allege that the male staff denied their requests to change in a private room, be “patted down” by a female staff member or have a handheld metal detector be used.
According to the lawsuit, the Sergeant was reportedly on the phone with the prison’s Deputy Warden when the requests were made and denied.
Both women also noted that the lobby where they were forced to partially undress is in direct view of some of the prison’s inmates.
On Wednesday, we reached out to other area prisons to learn more about standard safety and security procedures, and if what these women allegedly experienced would be considered protocol.
Kurt Wolford, the Warden at the Cambria County Prison, explains that while prisons have to be mindful of who is coming into their facilities, he says, “there is no situation where we would make someone strip down.”
Wolford further noted that in these types of scenarios, staff are instructed to either use a handheld wand or, if security questions remain, the person would then be denied entry.
We also reached out to the prison, and to county officials, for comment, but have not heard back.