The Sexual Prevention Association (SVPA) stands with Michelle Troconis, a woman incarcerated at York Correctional Institution (YCI) in Connecticut, who was subjected to an unauthorized strip search.
Strip and cavity searches are sexual violence. More specifically, they are a form of state sexual violence, a term the SVPA coined to refer to nonconsensual sexual acts that are either required, permitted, or ignored by the government.
On May 5, 2025, Troconis was strip-searched before and after a visit with a family member, leaving her “shaken.” When Troconis asked why she was being strip searched, the officer stated that it was required for officers to search “before and after” visits.
The Connecticut Department of Corrections ombudsman’s report found that the pre-visit strip search violated the Department of Correction’s strip search policy. The cause for the search was not documented and what was documented did not meet the required standards. Further, the ombudsman found that the search appeared inconsistent and potentially selective, as another incarcerated individual on the same date was not subjected to a pre-visit strip search. The ombuds noted that the officer’s statement “reflects a concerning normalization of invasive search practices.”
The response from the facility made the harm worse. The officer who conducted the unauthorized search received no disciplinary action. The reliability of the internal review was also questioned. While the Department reported that two other women were also strip-searched before visits, one of the women said she had never been searched and confirmed that Troconis was visibly distressed. When there is no accountability and internal reviews cannot be trusted, this constitutes state-tolerated sexual violence.
The SVPA applauds Ombudsman DeVaughn Ward for taking this complaint seriously and conducting a thorough, independent investigation. We also recognize the Connecticut Department of Correction for swiftly approving and installing body scanners at YCI. Two scanners were approved for YCI, the state’s only women’s prison, to reduce the need for strip searches. Body scanners are a less intrusive option for detecting contraband. The ombuds recommended expanding their use statewide. The SVPA strongly agrees.
“We encourage Connecticut to build on this momentum. The incident at YCI is not an isolated act,” said Katie Knick, Director of Research at the SVPA. “It is part of a wider pattern of invasive strip searches that go beyond policy, lack oversight, and cause real harm.”
Most drugs, weapons, and contraband that enter corrections facilities are brought in by staff, not inmates. Less than 1% of strip searches find anything, and that number is even lower for routine searches without probable cause.
“Strip searches are sexual violence. They violate victims’ consent, autonomy, and privacy, causing trauma and undermining rehabilitation efforts,” said Omny Miranda Martone, Founder and CEO of the SVPA. “There is no justification for strip searches. They are ineffective and unnecessary. Connecticut should use this case as a catalyst for ending these harmful practices.”
The SVPA strongly agrees with the ombudsman’s recommendations for reducing strip searches, implementing alternatives, establishing clear criteria for when strip searches are allowed, and strengthening staff training and accountability.
This case is part of a broad national trend of state sexual violence that the SVPA has been working to address. We have advocated against strip searching and other forms of state sexual violence in Colorado, California, Montana, and Idaho. We’ve also urged the DOJ to maintain vital protections under the Prison Rape Elimination Act.
Safety and dignity are not in conflict. Our government has no justification for allowing officers to sexually assault inmates. Strip searches are traumatic, unnecessary, and, as this case shows, easily exploited. We stand with Troconis and with all incarcerated people who have experienced state sexual violence. We call on Connecticut and states across the country to adopt clear policies that treat invasive searches as a last resort, not routine practice or a form of punishment. Together, we can end state sexual violence.
