Supreme Court Says Child’s Rights Violated by Strip Search

Parent Cafe
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<p><a href=“http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/26/us/politics/26scotus.html?_r=1&hp[/url]”>http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/26/us/politics/26scotus.html?_r=1&hp&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>I was very pleased to see this outcome…</p>

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<p>Ginsburg was correct to single out the Assistant Principal. Calling the parents before strip searching (!) a child seems like such a no-brainer and probably would have averted ligation altogether.</p>

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<p>I had the same reaction—incredibly poor judgment on the part of the ap, just the fact that they proceeded to search her simply based on a fellow student’s report was outrageous.
I also agreed that there was no danger or risk presented which would have warranted a search.</p>

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<p>Glad to see this decision… seems simply obvious… As for the AP, incredibly poor judgment</p>

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<p>I wrote an essay about this in September.</p>

<p>Glad to see is was finally rightfully sorted out.</p>

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<p>But had the school officials thought she had stronger drugs that would have been a danger to other students and had more reason that she actually had drugs in her panties, sounds like the strip search would have been allowed.</p>

<p>But seriously, strip searching an honors kid…what were they thinking!!!</p>

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<p>Like an honors kid is never capable of doing something illegal??–come on. There are dozens of cases of fine students doing very bad things. The cadets in Texas who murdered a girl were probably honors kids. There was a Phi Beta Kappa level biochem student at Wisconsin who happened to murder–they made a TV movie out of it.</p>

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<p>a student with no behavioral issues accused by a student with behavioral issues would inform me to gather more information and move cautiously. especially since the accusation was that she had ibuprofen on her, which clearly did not present risk to the student body.</p>

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<p>Crazy…it does sound like it though. </p>

<p>I can think of no circumstance when I think it appropriate for school officials to strip search my kid. Call me, talk to a teacher who knows my kid, call in a pediatrician, heck, call the police, if you start thinking a strip search is called for. School officials have no business performing strip searches–as long as the Supreme Court was called in (!), it’s too bad that wasn’t established. </p>

<p>As I ponder the prospect of someone trying to strip search my 6’ 2" 210 pound honor student, I can’t help but wonder if he’d end up arrested for assault, 'cause I can’t imagine him submitting willingly–nor would I expect him to!</p>

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<p>This. When it’s time for a strip search, it’s time for the police. Or parents. Good lord.</p>

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<p>Something illegal? Yes. Something that disgusting? No. The gross-out factor would have kept any normal teenage girl from carrying a pill around in her underpants.</p>

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<p>Thank goodness 8 of the 9 current Supreme Court justices had a little empathy for a 13-year-old girl subjected to a nude strip search for an ibuprofen.</p>

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<p>And then there’s Clarence Thomas, who isn’t even agreeing with Scalia these days.</p>

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<p>We chuckled at Mr Thomas finally having his own opinion.</p>

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<p>Justice Thomas will always say no, no matter what the issue.</p>

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<p>I think the Court decided the case correctly, but I was disappointed that the AP was given immunity from suit, but the school board was not – should have been the other way around in my opinion. He was WAY over the line.</p>

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<p>I agree with the opinion, but I want to point out that the term “strip search” in this case does not mean that she stripped nude. She took her outer clothes off and was in her underwear and her bra and panties were pulled out from her body so the female aids could look for pills. I’m not saying that is not humiliating, but I have read accounts online elsewhere that she was completely nude in front of the AP - no need to make it worse than it was.</p>

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<p>^Cartera, that is my understanding of the facts as well, but I still think that the AP, who made the decision to proceed with the search, was way over the line. IMO, he should not be immune from suit. Any sensible professional would have first considered other possible alternatives and would also have contacted the student’s parents and had them present. I hope that the school district has the good sense to terminate his employment.</p>

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<p>[‘Craigslist</a> Killer’ suspect an honors student at Vernon-Verona-Sherrill - syracuse.com](<a href=“http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2009/04/craigslist_killer_suspect_an_h.html]'Craigslist”>'Craigslist Killer' suspect an honors student at Vernon-Verona-Sherrill - syracuse.com)</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/localnews/columnists/jfloyd/stories/021208dnmetfloyd.b144259a.html[/url]”>http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/localnews/columnists/jfloyd/stories/021208dnmetfloyd.b144259a.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>GBesq - I don’t necessarily disagree with that. I just wanted to clarify.</p>