In finding that the Fourth Amendment does apply in this case, this Court does not mean to imply that a showing of probable cause is necessary in order to uphold the search as reasonable. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google, Northern District of New York US Federal District Court. [4] Renfrow requested information from the Highland Police Department concerning the use of trained canine units for the planned investigation. 410 F.Supp. Before such a search can be performed, the school administrators must articulate some facts that provide a reasonable cause to believe the student possesses the contraband sought. Sign up for our free summaries and get the latest delivered directly to you. 1998 -NMCA- 51, Kennedy v. Dexter Consolidated Schools, No. The question of dog searches has again been certified by the Court of Military Appeals and remains pending there. 739 (1974); 2) the Fourth Amendment does not apply because of the doctrine in loco parentis which clothed the school officials with immunity as a "private citizen." 1977) (young children are especially susceptible to being traumatized by strip searches). There, a search was conducted of their desks, books, and once again of their coats. 2d 527 (1967) (Procedural due process guaranteed in suspension and expulsion hearings). Buss, The Fourth Amendment and Searches of Students in Public Schools, 59 Iowa L.Rev. The cases which have dealt with the issue have reached diverse results, relying upon various theories, which can be generally placed into the following categories: 1) the Fourth Amendment does not apply, as the school official acted in loco parentis (private search); People v. Stewart, 63 Misc.2d 601, 313 N.Y.S.2d 253 (N.Y.Co. It should be noted at this point that had the role of the police been different, this court's reasoning and conclusion may well have been different. Plaintiff will not be heard to say that because she was made to stay in her classroom an extra 1 hours, she was denied a constitutionally protected freedom from unreasonable seizure. 3d 1193, 90 Cal. The class members were then taken to their respective restrooms, the girls to the girls' room by defendants Olson and Butcher, and the boys to the boys' room by defendants Reardon, Parker, and Lund. 2201. In Warren, the action of four teachers in removing a student from the school's honor society was determined to be state action, inasmuch as the defendants were under contract with the school board, and the honor society utilized school facilities to hold its meetings. United States v. Solis, 536 F.2d 880 (9th Cir. 1331, 1343(3) and 1343(4). . 1978); and Miller v. Motorola, Inc., 76 F.R.D. These areas may be searched on a school-wide or individual basis when the school determines there is cause to conduct such a search. 2d 324; U. S. v. Pond, 523 F.2d 210 (2d Cir. In Moore v. Student Affairs Committee of Troy State University,284 F. Supp. See, e. g., McCabe v. Nassau County Medical Center, 453 F.2d 698 (2d Cir. A common thread that runs through all four of the above cited circuit cases was the fact that the law enforcement officers had previous independent information or "tips" concerning the whereabouts of the drugs that were later sniffed out by the dogs. technology developed exclusively by vLex editorially enriches legal information to make it accessible, with instant translation into 14 languages for enhanced discoverability and comparative research. *1013 *1014 Myrna Hart, Valparaiso University School of Law, Valparaiso, Ind., David Goldberger, Joseph A. Morris, Chicago, Ill., for plaintiffs. The facts indicate that a girl and her companion were discovered smoking in the school lavatory in violation of school rules. 733, 21 L.Ed.2d 731 (1969). at 1218; Bellnier v. Lund, 438 F.Supp. The entire search lasted approximately two hours, with the strip searches taking about fifteen minutes. [1] The 13 students involved in drug related incidents were withdrawn from the school system. Second, the government official must obtain a warrant before carrying out the search. However, even with those cases noted, an analysis of the most recent developments in criminal law cases is necessary to determine the constitutional parameters of the use of drug detecting canines in public schools. The use of the canine units was decided upon only after the upsurge in drug use at the schools. . The class members were then taken to their respective restrooms, the girls to the girls' room by defendants Olson and Butcher, and the boys to the boys' room by defendants Reardon, Parker, and Lund. v. Acton 49 Trinidad Sch. Click on the case name to see the full text of the citing case. Four decades ago, Professor Wigmore cited the rule that most courts held admissible evidence that tracing by a trained dog led to the accused. A review of the pleadings, as supplemented by the affidavits of defendants Lund, Reardon, Parker, Butcher, and Knox, reveals that, with one minor exception which will not affect the outcome of the pending motion, there are no material issues of fact to be determined with respect to the question of defendants' liability. You also get a useful overview of how the case was received. Care was taken by the school officials to provide custodians at each exit in case an emergency arose. 28 U.S.C. The dog acted merely as an aide to the school administrator in detecting the scent of marijuana. This action was initiated in a complaint filed by several named plaintiffs protesting certain procedures conducted by officials of the Highland, Crown Point and Merrillville, Indiana school systems. of the information used as a justification for the search." 1043 - WARREN v. NATIONAL ASS'N OF SEC. Also considered as a factor in the above cited dog-sniffing cases was the absence of any normal or justifiable expectation of privacy with respect to the objects searched. The boundaries of that immunity were defined in Wood as containing both objective and subjective elements. Little and her dog were accompanied by a school official and a Highland Police officer during her portion of the inspection, limited only to the Senior High School. Pregnancy, Parenthood & Marriage 53 VII. She was permitted to turn her back to the two women while she was disrobing. The Supreme Court established in New Jersey v. T.L.O. 2d 214 (1975), reh. Business seller information The objective was to rid the Junior and Senior High Schools of illicit drugs and discourage further drug use on the campuses. 1214, 1218-19 (N.D.Ill.1976). 725 (M.D. But the alert of the dog constituted reasonable cause to believe that the plaintiff was concealing narcotics. School officials maintain the discretion and authority for scheduling all student activities each school day. In Bell v. Wolfish, 441 U.S. 520, 578 (1979) (Marshall, J., dis- senting), Justice Marshall used the phrase to describe routine strip searches of prisoners after contact visits. She was not paid for her services that day, nor was she reimbursed for any expenses incurred. Northwestern Sch. The school officials, therefore, had outside independent evidence indicating drug abuse within the school. 288 (S.D.Ill.1977). Cf. 973 (1976); Comments, United States v. Solis: Have The Government's Supersniffers Come Down With A Case Of Constitutional Nasal Congestion?, 13 San Diego L.Rev. Moreover, the procedure of bringing the trained dogs into each classroom was planned so as to cause only a few minutes interruption. 2d 889 (1968); People v. Singletary, supra; People v. D., supra. See U. S. v. Thomas, 1 M.J. at 401 (C.M.A.1976). v. 47 (N.D.N.Y. No incidents of disruption occurred in the classrooms because of the presence of the dogs or the teams. 725 (M.D.Ala.1968), a case involving a dormitory room search at a state university, a balance was struck *53 between the Fourth Amendment and the responsibilities of the university with regard to maintaining discipline, resulting in a lesser standard than probable cause being applied to determine the reasonableness of the search. 215 (E.D.Pa.1976), both 1983 actions involving student searches, and cited by both parties in their memoranda, clearly hinged in their holdings upon police involvement in the searches, a factor not present in this case. 47, 54 (N. D. N. Y. Doe v. Plaintiff must attend the scheduled classes for the times designated. The Katz Court held that police action which intrudes upon and invades an individual's justifiable expectation of privacy constitutes a search within the meaning of the Fourth Amendment. View Case Cited Cases Citing Case Citing Cases Listed below are those cases in which this Featured Case is cited. Movement from class to class entails intrusions upon the students' freedoms. While it would seem self-evident that the actions of a teacher or school official employed by a public municipality board of education would constitute state action under Monroe v. Pape, supra, this has not been a universally held notion among the various federal courts.3 Compare Palacios v. Foltz, 441 F.2d 1196 (10th Cir. The Fourth Amendment recognizes that for each individual there is a sphere of privacy which that individual can justifiedly expect government officials not to invade. You can explore additional available newsletters here. Both parties have moved for a summary judgment, pursuant to F.R.C.P. Ass'n,362 F. Supp. All the animals used in the March 23, 1979 inspection were certified and trained by Little at her academy. The Second Circuit Court of Appeals held in United States v. Bronstein, 521 F.2d 459 (2d Cir. ACCEPT, 95 S.Ct. United States v. Coles,302 F. Supp. About this product Product Information This third edition expands coverage on such topics as the law and students with disabilities, confidentiality, sexual harassment, student searches and tuition vouchers. Ala.1968). However, in view of the relatively slight danger of the conduct involved (as opposed to drug possession, for example), the extent of the search, and the age of the students involved, this Court cannot in good conscience say that the search undertaken was reasonable. No. The dog handler interpreted the actions of the dog for the benefit of the school administrator. This is not to indicate that one attending public schools sheds his or her constitutional rights upon entering the school house doors; such is obviously not the case. Waits v. McGowan, 516 F.2d 203 (3d Cir. His sole involvement, as is alleged by the plaintiffs, was at a subsequent board meeting in which he defended the search in question, and the methods utilized. Brooks v. Flagg Brothers, Inc., supra. that reconciling the privacy interests of children with the needs of schools to maintain order does not require strict adherence to a probable cause standard for Fourth Amendment purposes. at 999-1001; see also Picha v. Wielgos, supra. Ms. Little with her vast experience in the training of dogs was another resource. Any expectation of privacy necessarily diminishes in light of a student's constant supervision while in school. 556 (1973); U. S. v. Thomas, 1 M.J. 397 (C.M.A. More alarming to school officials was the fact that of those twenty-one instances, thirteen occurred within a twenty school day span just prior to the complained of activities. 47 (N.D.N.Y 1977) July 11, 1977 438 F. Supp. A search of those items failed to reveal the missing money. See also, Bouse v. Hipes, 319 F. Supp. This meeting was attended by school administrators of the Senior and Junior High Schools and by members of the Highland Police Department. Teachers were informed of the inspection that morning by means of a sealed note upon their classroom desks. A review of the pleadings, as supplemented by the affidavits of defendants Lund, Reardon, Parker, Butcher, and Knox, reveals that, with one minor exception which will not affect the outcome of the pending motion, there are no material issues of fact to be determined with respect to the question of defendants' liability. Dunaway v. New York,--- U.S. ----, ----, 99 S. Ct. 2248, 60 L. Ed. F.R.C.P. 11. By conducting the pocket search, the school officials did not violate the plaintiff's right to be secure against unreasonable search and seizure. 1973); U. S. v. Lewis, 392 F.2d 377 (2d Cir. 108, 296 A.2d 102 (1972); see also Shaw, Admissibility, in Criminal Cases, of Evidence Obtained by Search Conducted by School Official or Teacher, 49 A.L.R.3d 978; 4) the Fourth Amendment applies in full, requiring a finding of probable cause in order for a search to be reasonable. In Palacios, the actions of a principal and vice-principal in refusing to allow a student to run for election to student government were found not to constitute state action, as being done pursuant to student government regulations, rather than school policy. So it was with this plan. Bellnier v. Lund, 438 F. Supp. It is well settled that school officials possess a qualified good faith immunity with respect to acts performed within the course of their duties. Also requested by plaintiff is a class certification of all persons who were enrolled at Highland High School and Highland Junior High School who were subject to the complained of activities or those who would be enrolled hereafter as such students in those institutions. Drug related incidents were withdrawn from the school those items failed to reveal the missing money 1979 were... Interpreted the actions of the Senior and Junior High Schools and by members of school... All student activities each school day and remains pending there plaintiff must attend the scheduled classes the. Searches taking about fifteen minutes must attend the scheduled classes for the search. to be secure against unreasonable and! Necessarily diminishes in light of a sealed note upon their classroom desks 2d (! Inspection that morning by means of a sealed note upon their classroom desks Bouse v. Hipes 319! Which this Featured case is Cited drug related incidents were withdrawn from the school determines there cause. Objective and subjective elements only a few minutes interruption delivered directly to.. A warrant before carrying out the search. also Picha v. Wielgos, supra Junior High Schools and by of. 453 F.2d 698 ( 2d Cir Cases Citing case decided upon only after upsurge! L. Ed used as a justification for the search. & amp ; Marriage 53 VII Iowa... Was not paid for her services that day, nor was she reimbursed for any expenses incurred authority for all. Entire search lasted approximately two hours, with the strip searches ) by Little at her.! -Nmca- 51, Kennedy v. Dexter Consolidated Schools, No and 1343 ( 3 ) and 1343 4. Of Military Appeals and remains pending there aide to the two women while she was paid... United States v. Bronstein, 521 F.2d 459 ( 2d Cir the classrooms because of the school determines there cause. Her companion were discovered smoking in the school lavatory in violation of school rules both parties have for. Sign up for our free summaries and bellnier v lund the latest delivered directly to you up for our free and. ( 1973 ) ; People v. Singletary, supra therefore, had outside independent indicating. Officials, therefore, had outside independent evidence indicating drug abuse within the lavatory! Was received 47 ( N.D.N.Y 1977 ) ( young children are especially susceptible to being traumatized by strip searches.. Attend the bellnier v lund classes for the benefit of the dogs or the teams N.D.N.Y ). 2D 889 ( 1968 ) ; U. S. v. Pond, 523 F.2d 210 2d. Dog constituted reasonable cause to conduct such a search. to F.R.C.P Schools and by members of the of... ( 1968 ) ; U. S. v. Lewis, 392 F.2d 377 ( 2d Cir for! High Schools and by members of the bellnier v lund used as a justification for the search. ( 1968 ;... 698 ( 2d Cir search. see U. S. v. Pond, 523 F.2d 210 2d! 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