In Virginia, a heartbreaking incident unfolded in which an innocent 8-year-old child was subjected to an invasive strip search by correctional officers solely because she had the urge to visit her father while he was incarcerated. The prison guards explained to the girl that she had to remove all her clothes so they can inspect her for contraband before she is allowed to enter the correctional facility – male prison guards ought not to perform strip searches on an eight-year-old girl, regardless of the reason.

The Buckingham Correctional Center in Dillwyn, Virginia was the site of a harrowing incident when a little girl and her father’s girlfriend arrived to visit him. The prison guards wanted to strip search the child due to protocol, but this caused an intense reaction from the woman accompanying her as she felt it was disrespectful.

The prison guards warned the little girl and her father’s girlfriend that if they refused to bow down to the strip search and have their bodies fondled during a contraband search, then they would be prohibited from ever visiting this state prison again.

Diamond Peerman, the father’s girlfriend, issued a statement regarding this awful incident.

“I told her, that means you have to take all of your clothes off, or you’re not going to be able to see your dad. That’s when she started crying.”

Not only did the young girl have to suffer through an embarrassing and humiliating strip search by the Virginia prison guards, but Peerman was additionally dubbed a potential smuggler of items not authorized inside the state prison. To verify their innocence and ensure they were abiding by this rule, they had to endure sniffing from a Department of Corrections K-9 dog trained to locate drugs or contraband.

Peerman approached the prison captain and inquired as to whether or not it was necessary for the young girl to be searched. The captain confirmed that he wanted her strip-searched, despite Peerman’s explanation of merely accompanying the girl so she could visit her father and in no way representing a guardian figure. In any case, guards placed an authorization form in front of Peerman demanding she signs away all rights concerning this minor – although having absolutely no such authority.

The Buckingham Correctional Center in Dillwyn is facing harsh criticism after they illegally searched a minor without consent from her guardian. In response, Lisa Kinney, a representative of the Virginia Department of Corrections issued an apology for this gross violation of protocol.

“We sincerely apologize to this child and her family and will be taking immediate disciplinary action against the person responsible.”

The young girl was subjected to a dehumanizing strip search by prison guards, even though she suffers from both bipolar disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The incident left her utterly traumatized; as an elementary school student, the distress caused by this event forced her to miss valuable school days.

The aggrieved mother declared that she has ceased making visits to her father in the prison that committed the crime.