School Strip Searches ruled illegal by Supreme Court

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that an Arizona school violated Fourth Amendment rights when they strip searched a teenage girl to look for prescription-strength ibuprofen.  The Fourth Amendment protects citizens from unreasonable searches.  In this case, school officials ordered the student to take off her clothes and show them the inside of her underwear.

Although this didn’t happen in Utah, the Supreme Court’s ruling applies to all states.  Therefore, if your child is asked to remove his or her clothing by a school official, your child should refuse and immediately call you.  While school officials can strip search students if it is truly warranted, it is more than likely that a situation involving your child will not reach that level.  It is more likely that a school official is misusing their power.

If this situation occurs, or your child consents to a strip search at school without your permission, you should contact a qualified attorney as soon as possible to discuss your legal options.