A recent 5-4 Supreme Court decision allows law enforcement officials to conduct a strip search before incarceration in response to any misdemeanor offense. (See: http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/11pdf/10-945.pdf). Such policy is not in line with our country's constitution and history of upholding individuals' civil liberties. Among the arguments used to defend this position were that "People detained for minor offenses can turn out to be the most devious and dangerous criminals." (Sec. B-1) They cite the cases of Timothy McVeigh and one of the terrorists who was involved in the 9/11 attacks, both pulled over for traffic violations. However, a strip search of either of those individuals at that time would have been fruitless, and such individuals make up a low portion of petty crime.
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