Christina Cardenas, the wife of a California inmate, has secured a $5.6 million settlement after enduring a highly invasive strip search during a visit to Tehachapi Correctional Facility, her lawyers revealed on Monday. On September 6, 2019, Cardenas drove four hours to visit her husband at the prison, only to be subjected to a series of demeaning and invasive procedures. These included multiple strip searches, pregnancy and drug tests, as well as X-rays and CT scans. During one of the searches, conducted by a male doctor, she was sexually violated. Despite no contraband being found, Cardenas was denied her visit and later billed more than $5,000 for the medical procedures performed during the ordeal.
The settlement includes $3.6 million from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), with the remaining amount covered by other defendants, including two correctional officers, the doctor involved, and Adventist Health Tehachapi Valley hospital. As part of the agreement, new policies will be implemented to better safeguard the rights of visitors during prison searches, aiming to prevent future violations like the one Cardenas endured.
This case sheds light on broader issues of sexual misconduct and abuse in California’s prison system. It follows recent federal investigations into systemic abuses at various state-run facilities, highlighting the ongoing need for reform and accountability within the correctional system. Cardenas’s settlement is seen as a significant step in addressing these widespread concerns and ensuring the protection of visitors’ rights in the future.