Opinion ID: 462348
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Rights Under the Fourth Amendment

Text: 19 The inmates also contend that the actions of the female correctional officers violate their rights under the fourth amendment. They maintain that what are otherwise reasonable searches become unreasonable when conducted by a guard of the opposite sex. For reasons similar to those in the preceding section, we conclude that there has been no violation of the inmates' fourth amendment rights. 20 In considering the reasonableness, under the fourth amendment, of the female guard's conduct, [c]ourts must consider the scope of the particular intrusion, the manner in which it is conducted, the justification for initiating it, and the place in which it is conducted. Bell v. Wolfish, 441 U.S. at 559, 99 S.Ct. at 1884; Giles v. Ackerman, 746 F.2d 614, 616 (9th Cir.1984), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 105 S.Ct. 2114, 85 L.Ed.2d 479 (1985). 21 Assuming, without deciding, that the guards' surveillance of the inmates in their cells, in the showers, and from the play yard are searches for purposes of the fourth amendment, we cannot conclude, on this record, that this conduct is unreasonable and therefore prohibited by the fourth amendment. The physical setup of San Quentin permits viewing of inmates at almost all times, but the viewing is not unrestricted. Rather, the observations of inmates are restricted by distance and are casual in nature. While the potential for viewing the inmates unclothed may be great, the record indicates that such actual viewing of the inmates is infrequent and irregular. Female guards are not stationed at those positions which involve close and prolonged surveillance of disrobed inmates; for example, they do not work the tiers where the showers are located. 22 The inmates do not challenge whether internal security needs justify such surveillance. To restrict the female guards from positions which involve occasional viewing of the inmates would necessitate a tremendous rearrangement of work schedules, and possibly produce a risk to both internal security needs and equal employment opportunities for the female guards. We conclude, therefore, that such surveillance is justified under the fourth amendment. 3 23 Likewise, we conclude that the pat-down searches conducted by the female guards are not so offensive as to be unreasonable under the fourth amendment. These searches are done briefly and while the inmates are fully clothed, and thus do not involve intimate contact with the inmates' bodies. The record indicates that the searches are performed by the female guards in a professional manner and with respect for the inmates. Therefore such searches are acceptable under the fourth amendment. Bagley, 579 F.Supp. at 1103. 24 The record indicates that the female guards do not routinely conduct or observe strip or body cavity searches. It has been shown that only on two or three occasions, in emergency situations, have female guards observed strip searches. The prisoners have not shown that such action was not justified under the emergent circumstances. We conclude that the interest in prison security justifies such observations in emergency situations. Accord Lee v. Downs, 641 F.2d at 1119-21; Hudson v. Goodlander, 494 F.Supp. at 894.