The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana today filed a lawsuit against several Henry County Jail officials after gross misconduct and harassment of Ms. Stacy Smith, in violation of the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution.
Ms. Smith was placed in the Henry County Jail following an acute mental-health crisis. After holding her for days in the Jail’s restraint chair, officers required her to strip and remove her used tampon in front of the security camera within the cell and then used that camera to capture images of Ms. Smith’s genitals. Officers shared those images with staff and other individuals incarcerated in the facility, and continually harassed Ms. Smith about the images. Officers also tormented Ms. Smith by encouraging and offering to pay another officer to tase Ms. Smith while she lay in her cell, completely unprovoked.
“The circumstances and conditions in which Ms. Smith suffered in the Henry County Jail were grossly inappropriate, particularly given the mental health crisis which led to her confinement,” said Stevie Pactor, ACLU of Indiana Attorney. “The actions against Ms. Smith by jail officials were unprovoked, humiliating, and caused severe psychological pain.”
The ACLU of Indiana is seeking a trial by jury and nominal, compensatory, and punitive damages on behalf of Ms. Smith.
