In Portland, Maine, a local jail
will end a baffling policy requiring female attorneys to remove their underwire bras before entering to visit clients.
Citing the fact that the bras set off the metal detector, employees at Cumberland County Jail put in place a new policy on September 10 stating that attorneys visiting their clients must either remove their bras or forego their visit. At least two attorneys said they were offended at the request and refused to remove their bras when confronted at the jail’s entrance by deputies.
"It’s absolutely outrageous," said attorney Amy Fairfield. He said, ‘Are you wearing an underwire bra? Might I suggest you go to the bathroom and take that off?’ I said, ‘I will not. I am completely offended at that notion.'"
Fairfield sent a letter to Sheriff Kevin Joyce and to the chief judge of Maine's Superior Court citing her offense and concern, and stated that she considers the discriminatory policy to be a "constitutional issue."
While Sheriff Joyce said Monday that female attorneys will no longer be requested to take off their underwire bras, he also refused to apologize for the practice, even after allegedly promising a public apology to one of the attorneys. Read on for his rationalization.
Joyce said, "There is no way (for a metal detector) to differentiate people with underwire bras and someone bringing in a gun."
Of course, that's presumably the case with every single metal detector on planet Earth, and through pat-downs, security wands, or other methods, people have managed to figure out whether a person is carrying a gun or wearing a bra.
While it is a good thing that the sheriff has ended this particular policy, these women deserve an apology. While it's unclear what the policy is for other female visitors, the jail should end this requirement for all women, not just the attorneys.
That goes for all jails and prisons, by the way. A law degree shouldn't be required in order to be allowed to keep your undergarments on.
