CHICAGO (CN) - A juvenile detention center's policy of staffing its facility with same-sex officers limits work opportunities for women, the 7th Circuit ruled.
Ersol Henry and Terri Lewis claimed that the Milwaukee County Juvenile Detention Center's policy led to fewer shifts available to them, since there are far more boys detained in the facility than girls.
The district court ruled that the gender-specific policy was based on the requirements of the occupation. Judge Ripple overturned the decision.
"Although reducing the number of opposite-sex staff on the pods may help to promote security," Ripple wrote, "Milwaukee County has failed to establish that its policy was reasonably necessary for these goals."
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