Cook County Jail Illegal Strip Search Settlement

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More than 250,000 people who were unlawfully strip searched before being admitted to Cook County Jail in Illinois have won a tentative $55 million class action lawsuit settlement. If you were unlawfully strip searched during the admissions process into Cook County Jail between January 30, 2004 and March 30, 2009, you may be able to claim between $500 and $1,000 if the class action settlement if granted final approval.

The Cook County strip search class action lawsuit accuses Cook County Jail of violating the United States Constitution by enforcing a blanket strip search policy, as well as the policy of strip searching men in groups without privacy. The lawsuit covers two classes of individuals:

Class I: All males who were subjected to a strip search and/or visual body cavity search as a new detainee at the Cook County Jail between January 30, 2004 and March 30, 2009; and/or

Class II: All people (male and female) charged with only a misdemeanor or lesser offense not involving drugs or weapons who were subjected to a strip search and/or visual body cavity search as a new detainee at the Cook County Jail between January 30, 2004 and March 30, 2009.

If you are a man and fall under Class I and Class II, you may be eligible to receive an estimated payment of $1,000. Men who are members of Class I only would receive an estimated payment of $700. Women who are members of Class II would receive an estimated payment of $500. These settlement amounts could be higher or lower, depending on how many class members submit valid claim forms.

If you believe you’re eligible to receive money from the Cook County Jail strip search settlement, you must submit a valid claim form no later than January 27, 2011. This is the same deadline for excluding yourself or filing an objection. The final fairness hearing on the settlement will be held March 1, 2011.

More information about the Cook County Jail Strip Search Class Action Lawsuit Settlement can be found at www.loevy.com/class-action-3/young-strip-search-class-action.

The case is Young v. County of Cook, Case No. 06-cv-552, in the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division.

UPDATE: On July 3, 2017, if you were strip-searched while being admitted into the Cook County Jail and you previously filed a Claim Form in the 2010 Young v. County of Cook class action settlement, you may be entitled to an additional payment. Click here for more information.