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SCHOOL SAFETY LAWFourth Amendment Issues: 

SCHOOL SAFETY LAW Fourth Amendment Issues Edmund Zigmund Senior Legal Instructor Department of Homeland Security Federal Law Enforcement Training Center Glynco, GA 31524 (912) 280-5447 Edmund.Zigmund@dhs.gov

COLUMBINE SCHOOL SHOOTING: 

COLUMBINE SCHOOL SHOOTING

WARRANTLESS SEARCHES IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS: 

WARRANTLESS SEARCHES IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS TWO GENERAL TYPES: 1) INDIVIDUAL SUSPICION-BASED STUDENT SEARCHES 2) GENERAL STUDENT-WIDE SAFETY or ADMINISTRATIVE SEARCHES

WARRANTLESS SEARCHES IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS: 

WARRANTLESS SEARCHES IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS TWO GENERAL TYPES: 1) INDIVIDUAL SUSPICION-BASED STUDENT SEARCHES 2) GENERAL STUDENT-WIDE SAFETY or ADMINISTRATIVE SEARCHES

SCHOOL OFFICIALS ACTING ALONE: 

SCHOOL OFFICIALS ACTING ALONE NEW JERSEY v. T.L.O. 469 U.S. 325, 105 S.Ct. 733 (1985) Search constitutional 4th Amendment does apply to searches conducted by public school officials

SCHOOL OFFICIALS ACTING ALONE: 

SCHOOL OFFICIALS ACTING ALONE NEW JERSEY v. T.L.O. (cont.) 469 U.S. 325, 105 S.Ct. 733 (1985) Need Reasonable Suspicion: student violating law or school rules Do not need Search Warrant Scope of the Search limited to objective of the search: consider student’s age, sex and nature of infraction

SCHOOL OFFICIALS ACTING IN CONJUNCTION WITH POLICE OFFICERS: 

SCHOOL OFFICIALS ACTING IN CONJUNCTION WITH POLICE OFFICERS In Re ANGELIA D.B. 564 N.W.2d 682 (Wis. 1997) Search constitutional Reasonable suspicion justified search by school liaison officer at request of and in conjunction with school officials

SCHOOL OFFICIALS ACTING IN CONJUNCTION WITH POLICE OFFICERS: 

SCHOOL OFFICIALS ACTING IN CONJUNCTION WITH POLICE OFFICERS In Re ANGELIA D.B. (cont.) 564 N.W.2d 682 (Wis. 1997) Scope of search not excessive student’s age, gender, and nature of the infraction School officials can request assistance from school police officers or other law enforcement

SCHOOL POLICE ACTING ON THEIR OWN AUTHORITY: 

SCHOOL POLICE ACTING ON THEIR OWN AUTHORITY PEOPLE v. DILWORTH 661 N.E.2d 310 (Ill. 1996) Search constitutional Search by school liaison officer conducted to maintain a proper educational environment

SCHOOL POLICE ACTING ON THEIR OWN AUTHORITY: 

SCHOOL POLICE ACTING ON THEIR OWN AUTHORITY PEOPLE v. DILWORTH (cont.) 661 N.E.2d 310 (Ill. 1996) Reasonable suspicion existed & school liaison officer was a school official Scope of search proper - officer seized and searched only flashlight

SEARCHES BY OUTSIDE POLICE or INDEPENDENT POLICE: 

SEARCHES BY OUTSIDE POLICE or INDEPENDENT POLICE F.P. v. STATE 528 So.2d 1253 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1988) Unconstitutional Search "School Official Exception" did not apply Search at request of outside police S.R.O. needed consent or probable cause

INDIVIDUAL SUSPICION-BASED STUDENT SEARCHES: 

INDIVIDUAL SUSPICION-BASED STUDENT SEARCHES SUMMARY SCHOOL OFFICIALS REASONABLE (alone/in conjunction) SUSPICION SCHOOL POLICE REASONABLE SUSPICION OUTSIDE POLICE PROBABLE CAUSE

WARRANTLESS SEARCHES IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS: 

WARRANTLESS SEARCHES IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS TWO GENERAL TYPES: 1) INDIVIDUAL SUSPICION-BASED STUDENT SEARCHES 2) GENERAL STUDENT-WIDE SAFETY or ADMINISTRATIVE SEARCHES

GENERAL STUDENT-WIDE SAFETY or ADMINISTRATIVE SEARCHES: 

GENERAL STUDENT-WIDE SAFETY or ADMINISTRATIVE SEARCHES VERNONIA SCH. DIST 47J v. ACTON 515 U.S. 646, 115 S. Ct. 2386 (1995) Drug testing of student athletes constitutional “Special Needs” make the warrant and probable-cause requirement impracticable

METAL DETECTORS: 

METAL DETECTORS Thompson v. Carthage Sch. Dist. 87 F.3d 979 (8th Cir. 1996) Search constitutional Risk to student safety and school discipline no reasonable guardian/tutor could ignore General but minimally intrusive search for dangerous weapons (even though no suspicion of any particular student)

DOGS: 

DOGS B.C. v. Plumas Unified Sch. Dist. 192 F.3d 1260 (9th Cir. 1999) Dog “sniff” searches of property are not “searches” (See United States v. Place) Close proximity sniffing of person is offensive, highly intrusive and was an unconstitutional search Individualized suspicion required for dog sniff of students

LOCKERS: 

LOCKERS In re Patrick Y. 746 A.2d 405 (Md. Ct. App. 2000) Search constitutional School lockers were school property no reasonable expectation of privacy School officials can search like any school property No probable cause or reasonable suspicion required

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Thank You!