NEW YORK, NY October 06, 2007 —Under the terms of a new federal court order, the city will no longer strip search incoming inmates who are being held on minor charges -- something it already promised in 2002. WNYC's Bob Hennelly has more on the settlement, which could also cost the city tens of millions of dollars.

HENNELLY: Under the terms of a July 2002 federal court settlement the city had committed to ending the practice of strip searching people awaiting their first court appearance on minor quality of life crimes like public drinking or misdemeanors like turnstile jumping. Attorney Richard Emery, the lead lawyer for the inmates, said the city continued the prohibited practice.

EMERY: For the past five years they have stripped searched some 130,000 people illegally, improperly, who just find themselves at Rikers because they can't make low bail.

Under this week's agreement thousands of former inmates may be entitled to cash settlements that in the aggregate could top $70 million.

For WNYC I'm Bob Hennelly.

Under the terms of the landmark agreement an independent monitor will be appointed to report back to the federal court on how well the City complies with its latest commitments to restrict strip searches.