Pubdate: Fri, 26 Jun 2009
Source: National Post (Canada)
Copyright: 2009 Canwest Publishing Inc.
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/O3vnWIvC
Website: http://www.nationalpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/286
Author: James Vicini, Reuters
Referenced: The ruling http://drugsense.org/url/ewgAsKhd
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Savana+Redding
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?225 (Students - United States)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topic/strip+searches

SCHOOL VIOLATED TEENAGE GIRL'S RIGHTS WHEN SHE WAS STRIP SEARCHED: COURT

A public school violated the privacy rights of an Arizona teenage 
girl who had to undress on suspicion she had ibuprofen pills, the U. 
S. Supreme Court ruled yesterday in its first decision on student 
strip searches.

By an 8-1 vote, the justices upheld a ruling the school and its 
officials violated the U. S. constitutional right that protects 
against unreasonable search and seizure.

The ruling by the nation's high court was a major defeat for school 
officials who had defended the strip search as necessary for student 
safety, school order and combating a growing drug problem.

In 2003, school officials in Safford, Ariz., ordered the strip search 
of Savana Redding, who was 13 and in Grade 8. It did not find any 
ibuprofen, an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication used to 
treat fever, headaches and pain, or any other drugs.

"Because there were no reasons to suspect the drugs presented a 
danger or were concealed in her underwear, we hold that the search 
did violate the Constitution," Justice David Souter wrote for the 
court majority.

The school's policy prohibits the use, possession or sale of any drug 
on school grounds, including prescription and over-the-counter 
medications. A week before the search, a student became sick after 
taking pills from a classmate and said certain students were bringing 
drugs to school.

Following orders from an assistant principal, a school nurse had 
Savana remove her clothes, move her bra to the side and pull her 
underwear out, exposing her breasts and pelvic area, to see if she 
was hiding any ibuprofen pills.

The strip search was prompted by an unverified tip from a girl who 
had Savana's school planner and some ibuprofen. She claimed Savanna 
had given her the pills.

Savanna denied this. An initial search of her backpack and pockets 
did not turn up any ibuprofen. Officials then ordered the strip search.
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