An eight-year-old girl was strip-searched before being allowed to visit her father in prison, sparking uproar and prompting an apology , but causing the child to cease visiting the relative. State prison authorities denounced the actions by a staff member at Buckingham correctional center, in Virginia, after being contacted for comment by the Virginian-Pilot , which first reported the incident. Her mother responded by telling the girl to call her, but then asking her is they had made her take her pants off. The media has not identified the mother, in order to protect the identity of the minor. When they reached the facility, the pair joined a line to wait their turn to enter, Peerman said. Staff drew Peerman aside for additional screening after a dog sniffed and singled her out.

By Joshua Rhett Miller. December 6, pm Updated December 6, pm. A Department of Corrections K-9 trained to detect drugs and other contraband had earlier singled out Peerman, requiring that she be searched. Peerman then asked if the girl would also need to strip down, leading a captain to affirm that she would after guards initially said no, the newspaper reports. The girl — who suffers from bipolar disorder, depression and ADHD — has missed school due to the distressing incident.

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The girlfriend, Diamond Peerman, told The Virginian-Pilot that a drug-sniffing dog focused its attention on her and the girl as they entered the prison. Peerman was told she would have to be strip searched, but prison guards initially said the girl would not, Peerman told the Pilot. After consulting with a captain, however, the guards told her the girl would also have to undergo a search. Department of Corrections policy allowed guards to deny visitation to anyone who refused to be searched, the newspaper reported.