In 2006, former San Francisco Sheriff Michael Hennessey came to a decision.  After year-on-year investigations that involved male deputies having illicit (not to mention illegal) relations with female inmates, he changed the rules.

All female inmates would be relocated to one, central facility and it could only be staffed by female deputies.

In theory it was a good idea, but in practicum, well not so much.  Less than a year after the switch, more than 30 deputies challenged that decision in court.

The sex-discrimination lawsuit was brought against both the city and the county and the defendants, most of whom were women, said the change in policy was not only depriving them of career advancement and overtime opportunities, it was forcing them to work "undesirable schedules".

At the time of the filing a district judge sided with the sheriff but as of late last week, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals overruled that decision.

Ultimately, they don't feel that concerns about inappropriate male-guard-on-female-inmate relations is grounds to segregate the guards, keeping men with men and women with women when it comes to working at the San Francisco jails.

The practice of doing so, they said, deprives the plaintiffs opportunities for promotions and advancement within their careers.

The judges found that the lower court was too quick in its decision to allow sexual discrimination in the workplace as a means of advancing inmate safety- and they've kicked the lawsuit back to the district court and have said the case needs to be reheard.

Read the full story here:  Jail Discrimination Suit Revived In San Francisco