Unlike most school-security strategies, search and seizure procedures can be largely determined by studying landmark court cases. The U.S. Supreme Court set standards for conducting school searches in "New Jersey v. T.L.O." (1985) and for drug testing student athletes in "Vernonia School District v. Acton" (1995). School…

In examining student searches from a critical theory perspective, one considers who is being searched, who does the searching and by what authority, and how searching reinforces existing power structures. This article addresses these questions and related concepts (discipline, criminal/deviant behavior, punishment, and rehabilitation) by applying…

Focuses on two U.S. Supreme Court cases involving unreasonable searches and seizures: (1) Kyllo v. United States, No. 99-8508; and (2) Indianapolis v. Edmond, No. 99-1030. Includes information about the first case and the basis and decision of the second case. (CMK)

"Honest Mistakes and the Exclusionary Rule" (D. Morris; J. Sullivan) outlines an activity designed to capture students' interest in drug search and seizure issues. "Drug Testing: Is It Constitutional?" (C. Hankins) presents a lesson which addresses these same issues by focusing discussion and role playing upon the…

Comments on an article in the Summer 1992 issue of this journal (EJ 454 315) in which Professor J. M. Sanchez examined 18 decisions regarding student searches and concluded that the "T.L.O." decision made it possible to practically expunge the Fourth Amendment from American public schools. Introduces article by Lawrence Rossow (EA 530…

In contrast with J. M. Sanchez's article in the Summer 1992 issue of this journal, suggests that the "T.L.O." decision marks the full-fledged beginning, not the virtual end, of Fourth Amendment privacy rights of students. (MLF)

Educators concerned about school safety have resorted to searching students, their lockers, and their possessions. These searches have led to litigation over whether the Fourth Amendment's prohibition of unreasonable searches and seizures applies to public schools. Although courts have upheld reasonable searches, administrators should carefully…

Addresses the Fourth Amendment constitutional challenges facing high school student-athlete drug testing programs and applies the findings in the U.S. Supreme Court decision in the "Vernonia versus Acton" case, the first drug-testing case involving high school student athletes to be decided by the Court, by recommending 12 safeguards…

Discusses federal district court decision dismissing suit brought by three Texas high school students claiming that their Fourth and Fourteenth Amendment rights were violated when police, at request of administrators, entered school and rounded up, handcuffed, and detained them and 11 other students who "hung out" with a student arrested…

This article examines the role of technology in an attempt to curb school violence. Despite an increasing national focus on school violence and schools' growing desire for hardware to deal with the problem, the role of technology in making schools safer remains ill-defined and undecided. However, some educators caution that the use of technology…

Legal guidelines to help public school administrators make informed choices in situations that may require student searches are provided in this paper. The constitutional basis of the issue is first discussed, noting that school officials are not required to obtain a search warrant or to have probable cause. A review of Supreme Court decisions…

Judicial handling of Fourth Amendment issues arising from warrantless searches of college students' housing has concentrated on the status of the student. The author points out the defects in the status theories which have been used to justify relaxed standards of protection for college students. (Editor)

The legal rights of college students have changed substantially over the years, particularly during the 20th century. This paper provides a historical sketch of student rights, including a listing of significant events and cases, from the founding of Harvard College in 1636 to the bicentennial of the Constitution and the 50th anniversary of 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 New Jersey vs. T.L.O. (1985) the Supreme Court clarified and limited the student's Fourth Amendment rights against "unreasonable searches and seizures." When school officials act alone and on their own authority, they need not obtain a warrant but may conduct a search based on the lesser standard of "reasonableness." (LHW)