Virginia Prison Guards Strip Search 8-Year-Old Daughter Of An Invite During Her Visit To Her Dad

Every child should be protected from humiliation, especially when this is coming from an adult. That is why people were outraged after learning that a young girl was forced to get strip-searched when she visited her father in prison.

Just last year, an 8-year-old girl had to deal with indignity and humiliation of being strip-searched by Virginia correction officers. She was told that they would not allow her to see her father in jail if she did not follow their rules. The girl was visiting the Buckingham Correctional Center in Dillwyn was with her dad’s girlfriend at that time. They both refused the search but later on complied because they do not want to be banned from the correctional facility.

The father’s girlfriend, Diamond Peerman recalled the incident saying, “I told her, that means you have to take all of your clothes off or you’re not going to be able to see your dad. That’s when she started crying.”

Reports also stated that a k-9 unit, trained to detect drugs and other contraband, had also singled out the girlfriend. The officer also convinced here that she needed to be searched by the officers. Peerman then asked if the little girl would have to do the same, and the captain said that she had to. She then told the guards that she was not the legal guardian of the little girl and could not give consent, still, they told her to sign the consent form.

State policy explains that officials are allowed to search the children. However, the search does violate policy if it is executed without the consent of a legal guardian. Lisa Kinney, the DOC spokesperson said that the incident was very troubling and that it represented a clear breach in their protocols. She said, “We sincerely apologize to this child and her family and will be taking immediate disciplinary action against the person responsible.”

The corrections officer who first authorized the search did not “have the authority” to make that decision in the first place. Remember that the search of minors is extremely rare. And as it turns out, there is no contraband discovered during the searches of both the young girl and the fathers’ girlfriend. Authorities also searched Peerman’s car and did not find any narcotics.

After all this, with the little girl crying and all, they then allowed her to meet with her father before thanksgiving but still, had to do so with no contact and through the glass.

The reports also stated that the child suffers from depression, ADHD, as well as bipolar disorder. And because of what happened, she was incredibly traumatized. She even missed school for several days following the incident.

The girls’ mother stated after all of this happened, her daughter would no longer visit her father.

The grandmother also shared her worries after what happened to her granddaughter. During a phone interview with WTVR CBS 6, she said, “This is the rest of her life she to live with it… Just knowing that it happened was disturbing enough. I thought it was horrible… horrible.” She added, “Soon as the visit was done my granddaughter did text her mother and let her know what happened.”

The family is hoping that these rules will change soon. And that no other minor will have to deal with this kind of treatment when visiting their parent(s) in prison.