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Zero tolerance?

Posted at 1:01 PM on April 17, 2009 by Bob Collins (5 Comments)
Filed under: Crime and Justice

When it is OK to strip search a 13 year old girl?

In school? When she's suspected of having prescription strength ibuprofen?

The issue -- what are the limits of a school official's power and what are the rights of students -- goes to the U.S. Supreme Court next week. The case involves eighth-grader Savana Redding of Arizona. It may give more guidance to schools who enact "zero tolerance" policies on drugs.

Comments (5)

$T$%^$#^$ never.

Posted by Joanna | April 17, 2009 1:28 PM

Hell is located at the intersection of education and the law.

Posted by GregS | April 17, 2009 1:53 PM

Unfortunately, given this country's general hysteria about drugs and the Supreme Court's penchant for issuing decisions that erode civil liberties, we're going to get a 5-4 decision from SCOTUS that says the search was O.K and that the school administration doesn't have to pay damages.

Posted by Bob | April 17, 2009 1:54 PM

I think we should have a Zero Tolerance Policy against individuals who believe it is acceptable to strip search a minor. Particularly without first contacting the parent/guardian.

Posted by JSmith | April 17, 2009 3:12 PM

It is a sad state of affairs when a 13-year old honor student can be subjected to such an indignity on the third-hand word of another teenager. What adult in his/her right mind would take actions like this based on the word of a young teenager trying to get out of trouble?

Posted by Lauren | April 22, 2009 2:38 PM