NJ County To Pay $2.25M After Inmates' Claims Of Illegal Strip Searches

CUMBERLAND COUNTY, NJ — Cumberland County will pay millions to resolve a class-action lawsuit claiming that its jail illegally strip-searched thousands of inmates.

The $2.25 million settlement will support 4,956 people who were strip-searched upon admission to the facility despite being charged with non-indictable offenses — a violation of state law — according to court documents. The lawsuit covers actions over a four-year period ending on May 6, 2022, when the jail discontinued the practice amid litigation.

Judge Niki Arbittier approved the preliminary settlement agreement Oct. 23 and scheduled a hearing April 5 to finalize the plan at the New Jersey Superior Court in Cumberland County.

The attorney representing the defendants, including the county and the Cumberland County Correctional Facility, did not return comment to Patch.

The class-action lawsuit stemmed from a 2020 case in which four former inmates — Jamar Parrish, Darius Snead, Samuel Rosado and William Garrison — claimed that jail personnel strip-searched them after they were admitted separately on non-indictable charges. Jail staff had no reasonable suspicion that any of them were hiding contraband but told them to undress in front of corrections officers, according to the lawsuit.

The $2.25 million in damages includes $450 for each of the 4,956 class members who submit valid claims.

Each named plaintiff will receive $10,000 in damages. The county will also pay $390,000 to the plaintiffs' attorneys, along with additional costs that may reach up to $20,000. Those figures are not included in the $2.25 million figure.

A class administrator will be responsible for contacting class members about the settlement and then processing their claims. Any unclaimed portions of the settlement will be returned to the county. But up to $200,000 in unclaimed damages will support charities that offer services beneficial to the class members. The plaintiffs' counsel will choose the organizations, subject to court approval.

Transparency NJ first reported the settlement agreement.