Meeker County is one of a number of counties in Minnesota facing a lawsuit as a result of strip searching inmates as they arrive at jail.

The Minneapolis legal firm of Kaplan, Robbins and Ciresi has been representing plaintiffs in a number of legal actions against counties across the state.

At least one county, Mille Lacs, has reached a settlement involving a cash payment.

At the Meeker County Law Enforcement Center, strip searches are performed if deemed necessary for jail security, and they are performed by jail personnel who must obtain approval from the jail supervisor on duty.

The Meeker County case has been turned over to the legal staff of the Minnesota Counties Insurance Trust, and its attorney, John Iverson, was not available for comment prior to press time.

The legal firm representing inmates who were strip searched maintains that the procedure violates the rights of prisoners.

The action against Meeker County and other counties has been filed in federal court.