Lawyer Banned From Jail Because Of Bra
Posted on 13 June 2010 by LynThomas in Society
Lawyer, Britney Horstman of Miami, faced an embarrassing situation when she was denied entry to the Miami Federal Detention Centre jail, to visit one of her clients.
The guards said because her bra had metal underwires, which set off the metal detector, she could not enter the prison.
The attorney reminded guards of a detention center “memo” allowing female attorneys wearing an underwire bra to have entry into the prison. But the guards would not relent.
A few years ago, the Federal Public Defender’s Office, which represents inmates held at FDC, Miami, before trial, hammered out an arrangement with the prison, allowing female lawyers entry if guards determine – by using a wand – that their underwire bras are setting off the detector. Once it’s confirmed, the woman lawyer is free to enter.
Horstman then removed her bra in a bathroom. Dressed in a blouse and jacket, she was again denied entry. She was told she was in violation of the prison dress code, because she was not wearing a bra.
“Simply because I was a woman who wore a specific type of bra, my client was denied access to her attorney today,” said Horstman. “This is completely unacceptable.”
The code forbids women entry who are wearing low-cut blouses, sweat pants and shirts, leotards, wrap around skirts, zippered dresses, button-down dresses, sundresses, or any type of garment that is see-through, clothing that is tight or sexually suggestive, or revealing. It also requires that women wear bras, but does not forbid underwire bras.
Both men and women are forbidden to wear any clothing similar to that issued to the staff or inmates, such as khaki, orange, green military fatigue, or plain white T-shirts.
The incident was brought to the attention of the Warden Linda McGrew, who conducted an inquiry. She said the same thing would not happen again.
This is not the first time guards at the downtown Miami inmate facility have taken exception to the undergarments of female attorneys coming in to see their clients. Former Miami federal prosecutor, Lilly Ann Sanchez, said she also had trouble getting into the FDC to see clients. “I had several instances where I was wearing an underwire bra and they wouldn’t let me in”.
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[...] Britney Horstman,lawyer, of Miami, faced an embarrassing situation when she was banned from entering the Miami Federal Detention Centre jail, to visit one of her clients. Her bra, which had metal underwires, set off the metal detector. The guards ruled she could not enter the prison. This is not the first time this has happened… [...]
[...] Lawyer banned from jail because of bra. The guards said because her bra had metal underwires, which set off the metal detector, she could not enter the prison. [...]