body cavity search
Thorough physical examination
A body cavity search is a physical inspection of a person's bodily openings—mouth, rectum, vagina—typically conducted by law enforcement or prison officials looking for contraband.
More invasive than a pat-down or strip search, it requires legal justification and is usually performed by medical personnel: The suspect was subjected to a body cavity search at the county jail.
Methodical assessment or review
- inspectionFormal assessment of condition
- probeThorough examination or tool
- scrutinyClose, careful examination
- palpationMedical examination by touch
gloves · flashlight · squat · cough · visual inspection · speculum · orifice · rectum
Encroaching without welcome
- intrusiveInvading others' privacy
- humiliationLoss of dignity
- degradingLowering in worth
- violationBreaking of rules
privacy · dignity · discomfort · nonconsensual · compulsory · traumatic · dehumanizing · vulnerable
Legal threshold for searches
- warrantFormal authorization document
- consentVoluntary agreement given
- reasonable suspicionJustifiable grounds for investigation
- detentionTemporary official holding
custody · arrest · due process · constitutional rights · civil liberties · lawsuit · liability · policy
Confinement for offenders
- jailDetention facility
- correctional facilityInstitution housing convicted offenders
- border crossingTransit between sovereign territories
- customsTraditional practices or import taxes
airport security · detention center · booking · intake · checkpoint · holding cell · immigration · ports of entry
examination
Methodical assessment or review
- inspectionFormal assessment of condition
- probeThorough examination or tool
- scrutinyClose, careful examination
palpation · gloves · flashlight · squat · cough · visual inspection · speculum · orifice · rectum · vaginal
invasive
Encroaching without welcome
- intrusiveInvading others' privacy
- humiliationLoss of dignity
- degradingLowering in worth
violation · privacy · dignity · discomfort · nonconsensual · compulsory · traumatic · dehumanizing · vulnerable · exposure
probable cause
Legal threshold for searches
- warrantFormal authorization document
- consentVoluntary agreement given
- reasonable suspicionJustifiable grounds for investigation
detention · custody · arrest · due process · constitutional rights · civil liberties · lawsuit · liability · policy · authorization
prison
Confinement for offenders
- jailDetention facility
- correctional facilityInstitution housing convicted offenders
- border crossingTransit between sovereign territories
customs · airport security · detention center · booking · intake · checkpoint · holding cell · immigration · ports of entry · secure facility
- forensic methodsautopsy, fingerprinting, DNA testing, forensics, ballistics
- searchesseek, hunt, quest, find, locate
body cavity searchpat-down
Body search by touch
frisk · visual inspection · bag search · document verification · TSA screening
body, cavity, search, bodies, bodily, bodied, embody, embodied, embodiment