Sheriff apologizes to lawyers asked to remove bras at jail

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A sheriff in Maine has apologized to a pair of female lawyers who were told they needed to take off their underwire bras at jail to avoid setting off the metal detector if they wanted to talk to their incarcerated clients.

Cumberland County Sheriff Kevin Joyce said Thursday that he accepts "complete responsibility" for the actions of deputies who spoke with the lawyers. The women refused to comply with the request and left.

Joyce says he didn't give deputies proper guidance about how to handle such a situation. He says in the future, deputies will resolve similar situations using a metal detecting wand.

Joyce also said that the possibility of contraband slipping into the jail is a serious concern and that is why jail workers take security scans very seriously.