Student Search & Seizure

  In recent years, Triton has brought in search dogs to find students with drug paraphernalia, leaving students angry, saying that it is a breach of privacy. Students come to school every day with a bag to hold all of their belongings; books, binders, pencils and more. These students come to school, believing that what is in their bags is their own knowledge and that the school has no rig...

At Triton, there are problems with smoking and vaping on school grounds. If a student is caught smoking anything then the school searches through that student’s bag to find any objects that violate school policy. This is similar to the case of New Jersey vs. T.L.O. Terry was a high school freshman at Piscataway High School in New Jersey, who generated quite the uproar by smoking in her school...

Many schools have the right to search students and seize things that may raise suspicion or interrupt the learning process of the school. While this may be concerning to some, the school should be able to search students as long as there is proof or reasoning that any item they are carrying is detrimental to the school or anyone within the school. A 14-year-old freshman at Piscataway High School in New Jersey n...

Schools should be able to search students bags and belongings if they have a reasonable suspicion of illegal or criminal activity. I believe that students bags should be searched because in this day-in-age a lot of schools are involved in various situations that give them the reason to. Such as the vaping epidemic, or finding marijuana in the possession of students. In the New Jersey v. T.L.O Supreme Court cas...

While the Constitution’s 4th Amendment protects citizens from unreasonable search and seizures, students should not expect this luxury in their schools. “10 Supreme Court Cases Every Teen Should Know” from The New York Times, details New Jersey v. T.L.O., an important case which helped to clear up the issue of school privacy. When two girls were caught smoking in the bathroom by a teacher, which was ag...

Under a Supreme Court ruling, it is legal for students to have their personal items searched in school if there is justifiable cause, or even just a suspicion. In 1985, a case was brought to the Supreme Court regarding the privacy rights at school. T.L.O., a 14-year-old freshman at Piscataway High School, was found in the bathroom smoking a cigarette. She was then questioned and searched by the princ...