Settlement Reached After Controversial Incident Involving California Inmate’s Wife

Christina Cardenas, wife of a California inmate, was awarded a $5.6 million settlement following a deeply distressing strip search incident during a prison visit in 2019.

At a Glance

Christina Cardenas will receive $5.6 million after being sexually violated during a strip search at a California prison.
The incident took place on September 6, 2019, in Tehachapi, California.
Cardenas underwent multiple tests, including X-ray and CT scans, despite no evidence of foreign objects.
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation will pay $3.6 million, with the remainder covered by other parties.
The searches violated the terms of the search warrant, which only permitted strip searches if an X-ray detected contraband.

Details of the Incident

The distressing incident occurred on September 6, 2019, at a correctional facility in Tehachapi, California. Christina Cardenas went through a series of tests including drug and pregnancy tests, X-ray and CT scans, and multiple strip searches. One of these strip searches by a male doctor included a serious sexual violation.

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) will cover $3.6 million of the settlement. The rest will be paid by other defendants, including two correctional officers, a doctor, and Adventist Health Tehachapi Valley hospital.

The warrant that authorized the search allowed for a strip search only if an X-ray demonstrated foreign objects. No such evidence was found during the process. Despite this, Cardenas experienced two strip searches, was handcuffed, denied water and bathroom use, and received hospital invoices totaling over $5,000.

California inmate's wife who was sexually violated during strip search wins $5.6 million in settlement, lawyers say https://t.co/nT7hK0MDJD

— CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) September 10, 2024

Emotional and Psychological Toll

Cardenas has expressed the emotional and psychological toll this experience had on her. Her attorney, Gloria Allred, commented on the considerable impact of these events. “My motivation in pursuing this lawsuit was to ensure that others do not have to endure the same egregious offenses that I experienced,” Cardenas stated.

The incident had an additional repercussion as Cardenas was ultimately denied her visit with her husband, despite no contraband being found. Previous visits had also seen her subjected to strip searches, including one during her visit to marry her husband.

The wife of a California inmate will receive $5.6 million after being sexually violated during a strip search when she tried to visit her husband in prison, her attorneys say. https://t.co/dnvpFcorof

— NBC News (@NBCNews) September 10, 2024

Wider Implications and Reforms

The settlement stipulates that the CDCR must implement policies to better protect visitors’ rights during strip searches. This case brings to light ongoing issues of sexual abuse and misconduct in California’s prison system, sparking investigations by the U.S. Justice Department.

A separate lawsuit has been filed involving 21 women at the California Institution for Women, alleging sexual abuse by officers over a span of years. These and other incidents underscore the need for comprehensive reforms to safeguard the rights and dignity of those visiting and residing in correctional facilities.