School Resource Officer's Desk Reference

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Legal Guidelines for Student Searches


What is a “Search?”

The following are examples of searches:

  • Examining private items or places that are not in the open and exposed to public view.
     

  • Physically examining or patting down a student’s body or clothing, including the student’s pockets.
     

  • Opening and inspecting personal possessions such as purses, backpacks, bags, books, notes, calendars, appointment books and closed containers.
     

  • Handling or feeling any closed, opaque item to determine its contents when they cannot be inferred by the item’s shape or other publicly exposed physical properties.
     

  • Using extraordinary means to enlarge view or hearing into closed or locked areas, containers or possessions (e.g., using a fiber optic cable and viewer to peer inside a closed locker or containers).

 

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