"The women on their menstrual cycles were told to take out their tampons... and not given tampons after," according to the filing. "They were forced to put their clothing back on with glib suggestions that they use toilet paper if necessary. Many of these women got blood on their legs, feet and clothes."

Vollen-Katz said the case "is the sort of thing (John Howard Association leaders) are definitely watching and taking note of with a lot of concern."

"In a correctional setting there's obviously a difference in terms of what somebody's right to privacy might look like, and that is not wholly unreasonable in maintaining safety. ... But putting aside the legal question, looking at the facts of this case, this is deeply troubling," she said. "If there is a legitimate goal in training staff to do these kind of searches, there has to be a less invasive, more respectful way to do it."

The Illinois Department of Corrections declined to comment on the ruling.

"The Illinois Department of Corrections cannot comment on pending litigation," said Lindsey Hess, media administrator for IDOC.