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Jan 16th, 2009
Posted by Anjuli Verma, Drug Law Reform Project at 10:31pm

U.S. Supreme Court Grants Review in School Strip Search Case

You may have heard the infamous case of the 13-year-old girl who was strip-searched by school officials for allegedly possession ibuprofen (Advil). Perhaps as surprising as the strip search itself is today’s news that the U.S. Supreme Court has granted review in the case — meaning it will reconsider a lower court’s ruling that the student’s constitutional rights were violated.

Which raises the question: If the constitution doesn’t protect 13-year-olds from being strip-searched at school for allegedly possessing Advil, who does the constitution protect?

It’s hard to understand how the illegality of strip-searching Savana Redding is again up for debate. Consider the school’s case:

  • No physical evidence suggested that Redding — an honor roll student with no history of substance use or abuse — might be in possession of ibuprofen pills or that she was concealing them in her undergarments.
  • The strip search was undertaken based solely on the uncorroborated claims of a classmate facing punishment, who was caught with prescription strength ibuprofen — the equivalent of two over-the-counter pills of Advil.
  • No attempt was made to corroborate the classmate’s accusations among other students or teachers.
  • The classmate had not even claimed that Redding currently possessed any pills, nor had the classmate given any indication as to where they might be concealed.
  • No attempt was made to contact Redding’s parents prior to conducting the strip search.
The lower court’s ruling said it best: “It does not take a constitutional scholar to conclude that a nude search of a 13-year-old girl is an invasion of constitutional rights. More than that: it is a violation of any known principle of human dignity.” Indeed.

Tags: U.S. Supreme Court

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3 Responses to "U.S. Supreme Court Grants Review in School Strip Search Case"

  1. liberal hater Says:

    Can you say 5 to 4 to reverse the most liberal court in the country.

    Thank God Sandra Day O'conner is gone.

  2. janet o Says:

    Is it against the law and should it be prosecuted as a sex crime?

  3. Shades Says:

    If I would have found out one of my Children(Female or Male) was strip searched in School for ANY reason, The Persons involved had better PRAY that the Police get to them before i do! That IS a sex crime, and against a minor no less!!! A Strip search is done by Law-Enforcement for reasons of incarceration! NOT by a School because so-and-so said someone else gave them something.
    You want my Child searched, Call me and I will do it in private! It is a sad, sad world that our Children arent safe in their own Schools. And now add in the School officials molesting Our Children(On School grounds and Durring School hours), strictly on here say and WITHOUT parental notification and presence!

    OH HELL NO!!!

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