KANSAS CITY (AP) — A legislator says a screening policy at the local jail requiring women to remove their underwire bras before entering the facility is sexist and she is demanding that it be changed.
The corrections department disputes Jackson County, Missouri legislator Crystal Williams’ claims. Corrections director Diana Turner says the rules implemented May 16 aim to prevent weapons and contraband from being smuggled into the Jackson County jail.
Update JaCo Detention Center Bragate. The director and sheriff are digging in and deem there’s no need to figure out a solution which doesn’t target, but accomodates, a specific population, namely women. Asked for a brief suspension so it could be evaluated was told no. Lovely.
— Crystal Williams (@crystalpolicy) June 4, 2019
Williams raised the issue on Twitter Monday after hearing complaints from female attorneys and others about the jail’s screening procedures. The checkpoint consists of an X-ray machine and metal detectors.