Chicago, IL: (Jul-11-07) A class action civil rights violation lawsuit was filed against Cook County after jail inmates were subjected to tests for sexually transmitted diseases during processing. The suit claimed that between January 2004 and January 2007, 32,000 men were forced to take an invasive test that involved sticking a cotton swab inside the men's urethras without their consent. The procedure made the inmates feel dehumanized and caused severe pain. The fact that this was done without their consent was a violation of their civil rights. The class action lawsuit against the Cook County Sheriff's Department was filed over the manner in which these tests were done. The plaintiffs further stated that San Francisco conducts a similar practice but the STD test is down through a urine sample and with an inmate's permission. In a settlement reached, the Cook County Board agreed to pay $3.2 million dollars to resolve the allegations. [WBBM 780 NEWS: INMATE STD TEST]
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Reader Comments
Posted by
Marlon Porter
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Marlon Porter
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I was tested how do I get my check.
Posted by
Mark Martin
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Mark Martin
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I had been through testing several times and had filed a claim but never received a check. What can I do
Posted by
David S
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David S
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I had that same issue several times during the mid 90s and still have a problem when I think of the procedure. I knew that was not the proper way to go about testing. Very degrading and humiliating.
Posted by
Araceli Hernandez
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Araceli Hernandez
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Are inmates still able to file a claim for this class action lawsuit and if still possible where or how do they do this?
Posted by
Sean Momon
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Sean Momon
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During the time frame mentioned I dealt with the STD testing and the strip search in the basement as well as sleeping on the floor so am I still eligible for the compensation?
Posted by
PATRICIA CRAIG
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PATRICIA CRAIG
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I as well was subjected to std testing as part of the intake process at "crook County Jail on many occasions, I however am a female, the tests were performed in a meat processing plant fashion using ice cold metal speculumns, where now plastic disposable speculumns are used even in private obgyn facilities. The tables that we were forced upon for the testing were often dirty, and only a piece of very thin paper we were forced to lay and sit upon was the only barrier between ones self and the chair and the paper was often dirty and or used and I would have to ask for it to be changed where in response I waas told to shut the fuck up bitch. These tests were never explained, I never received any results, I was also subjected to lab analysis of my blood and urine, the urine tests were explained for pregnancy. The blood tests I still to this day am unsure of why they were collected. In addition to this following a brutal cervical scraping we were forced into a gymnasium made to strip naked I would have another human whom had not showered or bathed in who knows how long, many women had vaginal infections that were obvious, simply by the odor emanating from their persons, there would be a person to my left right in front and behind me then 4 additional diagonally within 2 feet each of me and we were all made to cough and squat sometimes up to 50 times many women had disgusting fluids and or objects such as contraband, vaginal discharge from infections splattering out onto the gymnasium floor within inches of my face. This effected me profoundly, the smell the sight of another humans rectum anus and vaginal openings, the smell of as well as infectious fluids splattering was one of the most disgusting experiences of my entire life. We would be subjected to the remains of this process with whatever was repelled from each persons body still on the floor while other inmates examined us individually to decide what size uniforms to give us one at a time. Often this process alone would take hours. The inmates would throw the "clean" uniforms onto the floor next to us and take our brassieres and panties that we were wearing when we arrived and dispose of them, so I was often rendered to wear county clothing that was unbeknownst to me clean or not directly touching my genitalia and had on several occasions contracted bacterial infections in my vagina from the clothing I was given with out any undergarments to shield my vagina from the disgusting community clothing. I have several other nightmare scenarios I could share regarding treatment of my personal self and that I had witnesses being inflicted onto other inmates. Please advise me if there is a similar class action settlements for women regarding the strip searches imposed upon us, at intake, before leaving, then again in the courthouse, upon returning to the facility as well we were all subjected to a physical strip search including cavity search.
Posted by
Andre P. Laughlin
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Andre P. Laughlin
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I also was a inmate at cook county jail and went thru this treatment as well!!! while holding a conversation with a friend , I was just informed about this law suit !!!!!! am I still able to be compensated for this mistreatment ?
Posted by
Jose M Rodriguez
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Jose M Rodriguez
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I was an inmate and went through this testing. Ju sc t found out about this lawsuit. How do we go about our claim?
Posted by
William Alford
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William Alford
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I was tested several times during this period that was being discussed and I just found out that I can be compensated for the pain I suffered am I able to still collect
Posted by
Jason Reeves
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Jason Reeves
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How do I collect my check
Posted by
Eugene bowling
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Eugene bowling
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I was tested 2-3 times years ago and I heard you can get areimbursement for that . And how do I go about that ?
Posted by
Bryant walker
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Bryant walker
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I was in cook county and it was very embarrassing to me. It was done in an rough way and it hurted me. I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THis classaction but I was in there.
Posted by
Patrick Williams
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Patrick Williams
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I went threw this process in November of 2005 and just found out about this lawsuit can you help me
Posted by
Rob gee
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Rob gee
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Hi I was mistreated like on my very first and LAST time ever visiting that place. I had the Swab STD test performed on me and I was fighting it off and received a life long injury to my urethra where as I bleed from my penis from time to time it still hasn't healed! I face constant embarrassment and pain undescribeable . I have always thought that it was wrong to have such a harsh painful procedure done, and the guy nurse was a out right homosexual. I fought them about having it done and was told I had no rights and that I was " In COOK COUNTY MF" they had to hold me down to get the swab test. I bonded out hours later but still to this day suffer from the pain and constant reminder of why I will never go back to "COOK COUNTY MF" I would like further information about this lawsuit and verdict.
Posted by
kevin manion
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kevin manion
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i was an inmate and went through this 3 times in one week a total of 6 time i belive altogether can you help me i just found out about this class action
Posted by
christopher maggitt
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christopher maggitt
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i was a inmate in cook county ,and was tested for std.
can u help me
can u help me
Posted by
Bruce Myers
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Bruce Myers
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I also was an inmate at cookcounty jail when this was going on...scary feeling even right before it happens
Posted by
James Boyd
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James Boyd
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This also happened to me. But at the time of these lawsuits I was incarnated is there any way to still file claims.
Posted by
Omar McGhee
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Omar McGhee
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I went thru this an a repeat inmate at cook county jail.
Posted by
Sandi Ouellette
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Sandi Ouellette
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My husband went through this so called STD testing and now has a diagnoses of prostrate cancer. This is another sign of our Justice system in a falling state. It is sad but civil and human rights of the treatment of inmates by the people who are supposed to be upholding the law and be a role model and it seems that the majority are worse than the ones that are incarcerated. And no one seems to care or think they are extracting when they try to get someone to listen. I have seen and heard stories of people who have made mistakes in life and are sentenced to county jail and prisons where they are treated in ways like this. Just because they broke the law how is it right for the staff to do such dehumanizing things to them and as a society that believes in human rights accept this kind of behaviors.
Posted by
Justin Little
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Justin Little
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I was there for that Mistreatment
Posted by
david jackson
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david jackson
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I was part of this probe for this class action lawsuit
Posted by
DeSean Morgan
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DeSean Morgan
on
i was subjected to the above mentioned abusive practice.
Chicago, IL: (Jul-11-07) A class action civil rights violation lawsuit was filed against Cook County after jail inmates were subjected to tests for sexually transmitted diseases during processing. The suit claimed that between January 2004 and January 2007, 32,000 men were forced to take an invasive test that involved sticking a cotton swab inside the men's urethras without their consent. The procedure made the inmates feel dehumanized and caused severe pain. The fact that this was done without their consent was a violation of their civil rights. The class action lawsuit against the Cook County Sheriff's Department was filed over the manner in which these tests were done. The plaintiffs further stated that San Francisco conducts a similar practice but the STD test is down through a urine sample and with an inmate's permission. In a settlement reached, the Cook County Board agreed to pay $3.2 million dollars to resolve the allegations. [WBBM 780 NEWS: INMATE STD TEST]
Chicago, IL: (Jul-11-07) A class action civil rights violation lawsuit was filed against Cook County after jail inmates were subjected to tests for sexually transmitted diseases during processing. The suit claimed that between January 2004 and January 2007, 32,000 men were forced to take an invasive test that involved sticking a cotton swab inside the men's urethras without their consent. The procedure made the inmates feel dehumanized and caused severe pain. The fact that this was done without their consent was a violation of their civil rights. The class action lawsuit against the Cook County Sheriff's Department was filed over the manner in which these tests were done. The plaintiffs further stated that San Francisco conducts a similar practice but the STD test is down through a urine sample and with an inmate's permission. In a settlement reached, the Cook County Board agreed to pay $3.2 million dollars to resolve the allegations. [WBBM 780 NEWS: INMATE STD TEST]
Posted by
Kenneth Kellogg
on
Kenneth Kellogg
on
i was an inmate
Posted by
Darryl harper
on
Darryl harper
on
I was one of the cook county inmates who was swab for a std
