A Supreme Court ruling of January 1985 reversed a New Jersey Supreme Court decision of March 1984, which found a student search violated the Fourth Amendment. The reversal by the Supreme Court leaves unanswered some important questions about school searches. (MD)

When school employees investigate alleged misconduct by students, they must follow school rules and federal and state laws. A school-locker search in a recent case from Indiana--"S.A. versus State"--illustrates the importance of employees and students knowing the rules governing investigations, and of specific employees being given the…

Reviews a recent case involving searches of student lockers from the Washington State Court of Appeals. According to this decision the Supreme Court's two criteria of reasonableness in student searches ("New Jersey v. T.L.O.") also apply to student lockers and may apply to searches of student desks, cars, and clothing. (MD)

In the "New Jersey vs. T.L.O." decision the Supreme Court clarified the law concerning student searches. Reviews two recent California cases illustrating how courts are interpreting the Supreme Court decision in a way that upholds reasonable student searches. (MD)

Discusses the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals' rewriting of its earlier decision in "Horton v. Goose Creek Independent School District" of Baytown (Texas), involving the use of dogs in school drug and liquor searches. Compares the decision with other circuits' conflicting rulings and suggests guidelines for using dogs. (RW)

Reviews the Supreme Court student search policy in relation to a recent decision concerning a Pima County, Arizona, high school student search that revealed cocaine but was found to be an illegal search. Also reviews the lower court decision in "Loudermill v. Cleveland Board of Education," which found that the school had provided its…

A current United States Supreme Court case will determine constitutional guidelines for school administrators in searching students for drugs and other school contraband. Thus far, the New Jersey Supreme Court has established a demanding standard for warrantless searches of students and their property, requiring respect for students'"valid…

Reviews four recent cases decided in state and federal courts. The cases focused on due process in student suspensions, the use of unlawfully obtained evidence in disciplinary hearings, unacceptable methods for handling personnel conflicts, and the application of voluntary affirmative action policies during periods of staff reduction. (PGD)