Iowa school ignores Supreme Court ruling on strip-searches
In June, 2009, the Supreme Court said that a search of a student at school requires a “reasonable suspicion of danger” before a search can make “the quantum leap from outer clothes and backpacks to exposure of intimate parts.” The “danger” referred to means danger to other students from exposure to drugs or weapons.
Savana Redding - AP Photo
This ruling concerned the strip-search of a 13-year-old honor student at Safford Middle School in Arizona. Savana Redding was suspected of having prescription ibuprofen in her possession. Nothing was found on Savana.
Two months later, five girls at Atlantic High School in Iowa were searched for $100 reported missing by a student in her gym class. While the student and a female counselor observed, four of the girls were required to remove all clothing except their underwear. The fifth girl, age 15, was told to take everything off. The money wasn’t found on any of the girls. Their parents weren’t called in advance, nor was the school resource officer involved.
Iowa law authorizes student searches when there is reasonable grounds to believe that a law or school rule has been or is being broken.* However, the law further states that a “student protected area” includes their body and that ” A school official shall not conduct a search which involves a strip-search.”**
Atlantic High School
The school has the matter under investigation and one administrator has been suspended pending the outcome. The families of the girls have spoken with attorneys and may be taking legal action.
In September, 2011, sixth-grade students at a public elementary school in the western state of Michoacan, Mexico, were forced to strip down when $13.00 disappeared. Mexico’s Human Rights Commission has the incident under investigation. Staff from the Commission have been sent to speak with the students and local authorities.
* Iowa Code Sec. 8O8A-1
** Iowa Code Sec. 8O8A-2
This post was written by Natalie Jacobs. Prior to joining the AsktheJudge.info team, Natalie worked as a criminal attorney for over five years. She also has worked with Innocence Projects as well as Girls on the Run of Northern Arizona, a character development program for girls in 3rd through 8th grade. When she's not reading and writing about youth justice issues, she thinks about becoming a farmer, chef, world traveler, Bikram master, dogwalker and 80’s film reviewer.
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