Court Rules School's Strip Search Illegal

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that school officials conducted an illegal strip search of a 13-year-old girl, but the court left to the lower courts if the school could be held financially liable for their actions. In an 8-1 ruling, the court said school officials violated the Fourth Amendment rights of Savana Redding.

When Redding (pictured) was strip searched at Safford Middle School in Arizona officials were looking for the equivalent of two Advils.

The court ruled that the search of her backpack and outer clothing was legal, but the school went too far in asking her to remove and shake out her underwear. The court has previously ruled in 1985 that school officials need only reasonable suspicions, not probable cause to search for drugs on campus.

No Danger to Other Students

"What was missing from the suspected facts that pointed to Savana was any indication of danger to the students from the power of the drugs or their quantity, and any reason to suppose that Savana was carrying pills in her underwear," Justice David Souter wrote in the majority opinion. "We think that the combination of these deficiencies was fatal to finding the search reasonable."

The lone dissenting Justice, Clarence Thomas disagreed the school overstepped and explained his reasons.

"It was eminently reasonable to conclude the backpack was empty because Redding was secreting the pills in a place she thought no one would look," Thomas said. "Redding would not have been the first person to conceal pills in her undergarments. Nor will she be the last after today's decision, which announces the safest place to secrete contraband in school."

Justice Thomas has a point. What is your opinion?

See Also:
Top Court Rules Strip Search of Teen Was Illegal

Earlier Article:
Court to Decide School Strip-Search Case

What Is Your Opinion?
Discuss The School Search Issue

Free Newsletter:
Get the Crime & Punishment Newsletter

^{Photo: Mark Wilson / Getty Images}