What do you think about Strip searching young teenagers?

Mishy · #1 04-24-2009, 04:09 AM

I was surfing one of my favourite sites when i found this news article. What are your opinions of this matter? Mine is that they took it to far just ro find out what she was carrying and I thought that was illegal unless you were a police officer. (I would do more but im pressed for time i'll elaborate more when i get back)

1, 2, 3 DEBATE!

Doctorzongo · #2 04-24-2009, 08:42 AM

If it is a normal strip search (i.e. a police officer has a warrant and strong evidence they may be smuggling drugs) -- teens shouldn't be exempt because they're teens. It may be unpleasant, but using children to smuggle things like drugs or a bomb is not new.

Cases like this -- NO.

EvilAerosolCan · #3 04-24-2009, 12:50 PM

Police officer with a warrant, and a female officer with females, okay. That case, no. I have a daughter, and if that were my daughter, those involved would be going to jail, or I would be. Seriously.

Schools are retarded these days. When my kids are old enough for school, I will either pay for private school, or home school them myself. Stuff like this is why we need a voucher system. So parents can choose where to send their kids.

Methedras · #4 04-24-2009, 04:48 PM

It's fine as long as the proper controls are present. If the parents can be present - all the better.

TamaraLane · #5 04-24-2009, 06:59 PM

Well first of all if a kid has ibuprofen at school, SO WHAT! who gives a rats .... I think they have bigger problems than honors students smuggling ibuprofen. This search was definitely going to far. Kids should be able to have over the counter meds at school with a parents permission.

But can the school search is a separate topic. I think in the case of illeagle drugs, or weapons yeah, If they have good reeason. but when it comes to a strip search, perhaps law officers should be involved. At least parent consent at a minimum.

Mishy · #6 04-25-2009, 02:18 AM

I beleive that its illegal to strip search a minor unless it is a police person with a warrant (Not 100% sure) the school had a 0% tolerance policy on ANY drugs so ibuprofen is in but the strip search after all forms of LEGAL searches were conducted by the school they further decided to perform a (possibliy) illegal search and mentally destroy the girl in the process. Nice job they did >_> They should have AT LEAST told the parent.

mykalgaidin · #7 04-25-2009, 05:25 AM

Okay, I'm back, let the games begin!

I think this comes down to a 5th Amendment issue (for those who are not from the US, the 5th Amendment guards against unreasonable search and seizure). In my reading of the article, by the school (funded by the federal government) forcing this young woman to go through a strip search without a warrant than this girl's Constitutional Rights are being violated. That's why we have warrants, where a judge signs off on a police action, saying that the greater good would be served by allowing the search.

Secondly, because the girl didn't have a legal representative nor her legal guardians present during the search, it could possibly be considered assault.

Hexblood · #8 04-25-2009, 05:50 AM

I think a strip search was a bit much over an accusation of having and distributing ibuprofen, prescription or not.

Even if it were Viccoden, muscle relaxers, something with codeine, or an illegal substance then a female police officer and family member should also have been called in.

I have a daughter close to the age in which that girl was searched, rest assured a lawsuit would have been filed and a lot of heat would have been brought down on that school if it were my child.

It is good that they had a 2 deep female presence, but you have to think about how deep of a trauma this would put on a child of that age. Especially a young lady in these times where popular media puts such a strong emphasis on physical appearance.

A law enforcement officer and a family member makes sense just to cover your ass for any repercussions as this school is now finding out about.

mykalgaidin · #9 04-25-2009, 03:07 PM

But would an "accusation" give the school (which is not a law-enforcement entity) enough probable cause to justify the search? Plus, the fact that she's a minor opens up a while new can of worms. Forcing her to submit to a strip search could be considered assault. Since they forced her to "strip" that could conceivably be construed as sexual assault of a minor. It could be possible for everyone involved in this to be forced to register as a sex offender.

LordXenophon · #10 05-04-2009, 08:34 PM

Does anyone know any judges who would issue a warrant for a strip search based on suspicion of the posession of ibuprophen? I doubt it.