Warden Axed for Alleged Strip-Search of Kids

W A S H I N G T O N, D. C., May 30 -- The District of Columbia is facing a multimillion-dollar lawsuit and four jail officials have been fired after groups of boys and girls were allegedly strip-searched and traumatized in jail visits, officials said.

The middle-school children visited the District of Columbia jail earlier this month as part of a program to scare troublesome students out of bad behavior.

Strip-Searched, Harassed at the D.C. Jail

School district officials are investigating numerous complaints, including allegations that 18 girls from the district's Evans Middle School were led into a block of male inmates and harassed on May 18.

One day earlier, officials say up to nine boys from a group of male students were allegedly strip-searched during a similar tour. Officials are also investigating whether male and female students were strip-searched during two visits in April.

Wayne Cohen, a lawyer representing some of the students in a multi-million dollar lawsuit stemming from the incident, said some of the students also witnessed an inmate masturbating.

Outraged parents said the school should have canceled the girls' tour after hearing complaints from the boys the day before.

Warden Patricia Britton, a 19-year veteran of the corrections department, was fired on Tuesday for allegedly allowing the searches.

Correction officers Dexter Allen, Jerome West and Karl White — all of whom have served at least 13 years with the department — were also fired for their alleged roles. In addition, at least one school official has been placed on administrative leave.

Corrections Department, School Officials Investigate

Corrections Department Chief Odie Washington released a statement saying the four displayed "extremely poor judgment, abuse of authority, and a clear violation of department policy."

A teacher and a school official responsible for coordinating the jail visits have been placed on administrative leave, said the city's schools superintendent, Paul Vance.