1985-New+Jersey+v.+T.+L.+O


 * __Summary__** -

In New Jersey, a teacher caught T.L.O and another freshman girl in the bathroom smoking. Smoking in the school was not prohibited as long as it was in a designated area. They were taken to the principal’s office. One girl admitted that she had been smoking. T.L.O however denied that she smoked and claimed that she had never smoked. The principal demanded to see her purse. Inside the purse there was a packet of cigarettes. When removing the cigarettes, he notices some rolling paper that is used for smoking marijuana. He then searched the purse further, where he found a small bag of marijuana, pipe, and small empty bags. He also found large quantity of money, index cards with student’s names of who seem to owe her money, and letters that implicated that she sold marijuana. The principal contacted her mother who voluntarily drove her to the police station. The principal had also contacted the police department. The Supreme Court ruled that the school did have reasonable suspicion to search the purse.

**__Impact on Education__** -

In public schools there only needs to be reasonable suspicion that a student has violated a school rule or law to conduct a search.

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