Resource officer's search of student backpack ruled illegal

Aug. 4, 2012
Washington State Supreme Court says officer needed a warrant to conduct search

From The Bellevue Reporter: The Washington State Supreme Court has ruled that a 2009 search of a student's backpack was not legal because the school officer was acting in a law enforcement role and needed to obtain a search warrant. According to a 6-3 court decision, Officer Michael Fry's actions did not fall under an exception that allows school officials to search students without a warrant; therefore the evidence should have been suppressed at trial. Court documents say that the student was arrested in 2009 in the bathroom of Robinswood High School when the school resource officer witnessed the student handling marijuana. The officer was contracted from the Bellevue Police Department. He placed the student under arrest, and while waiting for backup became suspicious of the contents of the student's backpack. He then searched it and founded an air soft gun.

Sponsored Recommendations

How to design flexible learning spaces that teachers love and use

Unlock the potential of flexible learning spaces with expert guidance from school districts and educational furniture providers. Discover how to seamlessly integrate adaptive ...

Blurring the Lines in Education Design: K–12 to Higher Ed to Corporate America

Discover the seamless integration of educational and corporate design principles, shaping tomorrow's leaders from kindergarten to boardroom. Explore innovative classroom layouts...

Room to Learn: Furniture Solutions for Education

Preparing students for the future. Utilizing our experience in the education market, we offer a dynamic selection of products that pair technology with furniture to help stimulate...

Transforming Education: A Case Study in Progressive Classroom Design

Discover how Workspace Interiors and the Baldwin School District reshaped learning environments in Long Island, New York, creating pedagogically responsive spaces that foster ...