New Jersey v. T.L.O.
469 U.S. 325 (1985)
by
Darin Rockwell

Facts:

A fourteen year old freshman was smoking cigarettes in the restroom of school, which was in violation of the school’s anti-smoking policy. She was immediately taken to the School’s Vice Principal. The 14 year old freshman, T.L.O., denied that she had been smoking. The vice principal searched the student’s purse.  He found a pack of cigarettes, and proceeded to search deeper in the purse. Then, he found marijuana, a pipe, rolling papers, a large amount of money, and a paper with a list of students’ names. She then admitted to smoking marijuana. The student was tried in a Juvenile Court. She argued that the search was in violation of the Fourth Amendment: unreasonable searches and seizures. Therefore, she figured her confession of smoking marijuana should be dismissed because of the unreasonable search.

Decision:

The New Jersey Superior court decided that the search was not in violation of the Fourth Amendment and the principal had reason to search the purse. The case was brought to the Supreme Court of New Jersey, which ruled the search was reasonable, sentencing T.L.O. to one year of probation. The case was appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, which found that the search did not violate the Fourth Amendment.

Basis for the Decision:

School children have certain rights to privacy. New Jersey argued that the school officials had a good reason to search the purse; the girl was found smoking, school authority searched her purse for cigarettes, and the marijuana usage was in plain sight. T.L.O argued that the employees of the school did not have the right by law to act as parents. In Court, however, T.L.O. argued that the search of her purse was an unreasonable act. However, in court, the state argued that when the vice principal found rolling papers and other items, he was justified in continuing a full search. The state also argued that the school can indeed search within reason to enforce school policies and rules so long as the search is reasonable in its scope.