Puyallup’s jail camera controversy justified

Are video cameras in jails a violation of personal privacy or a tool that is necessary for safety for both inmates and corrections officers?

There’s a federal civil rights case happening right now against the city of Puyallup.

According to the Tacoma News Tribune, “Twelve people — 11 women and a man — contend the use of security cameras in the city jail’s holding cells violated their constitutional right to privacy when they were booked for DUI in the years leading up to 2013.

They sued last year, seeking undisclosed monetary damages.”

So what kind of privacy violations are being alleged?

“One of the plaintiffs’ attorneys, Julie Kays, told jurors during her opening statement that the cameras recorded her clients changing clothes or using the toilet, a clear violation of their privacy.”

Kays argues the videos are subject to public disclosure requests. In fact, an attorney with no connection to the people jailed put in several public disclosure requests. He apparently bombarded the city, which initially refused the requests but then later released nearly 3,000 hours of videos.

The defense attorney, Richard Jolley, said this is all about safety. He said they are “a legitimate tool that help keep inmates safe and protect correctional officers from unsubstantiated claims of wrongdoing.”

I find myself siding with the plaintiffs, in so much as I think there needs to be some changes.

You wouldn’t be photographed or videotaped in jail had you not broken the law. In this case, it had to do with DUI, but, to be fair, we do know that everyone who gets popped for DUI isn’t convicted and we know that mistakes are made. So if you shouldn’t be in jail to begin with, it seems rather unfair to have videos of you undressing or using the bathroom subject to a public disclosure request.

However, I also think we should have videos to prevent abuse from taking place – to have evidence if an inmate claims they were abused.

The city needs to come up with a compromise. Is it necessary to have videos of people undressing and using the toilet or can you position the cameras to allow for more privacy? Could you blur out their faces?