Question

the "New Jersey vs. TLO" case, the Supreme Court declared that schools may do which of the following? A. Search a student's belongings after obtaining a search warrant. B. Search a student's belongings when they have reasonable suspicion of the student's wrong doing. C. Search a student's belongings when they have probable cause and evidence.​

Answer 1

B. Search a student's belongings when they have reasonable suspicion of the student's wrong doing.

In the ruling of New Jersey v. TLO, the court found that (public) school administrators can search a student's belongings if they have a reasonable suspicion of criminal activity.

Answer 2

Answer:

B.

Explanation:

In short, T.L.O. was a student in high school who got caught with her friend smoking in the bathroom. She denied the allegations. A school administrator looked in her purse and found cigarettes and cigarette rolling paper, a common item for rolling marijuana cigarettes. He further searched the purse and found marijuana and other drugs. The case turned into a juvenile delinquency proceeding.

He had the suspicion that she was smoking marijuana, what the law would see a probable cause, and he was right. Law enforcement officials can lawfully search a specific place or belonging (car, purse, room, etc.) with probable cause. For instance, if a police officer pulls someone over and smells alcohol in the vehicle, they can search it. However, the 4th Amendment strictly outlines the rules of probable cause, as stated below:

“The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”

The place must be specific, and probable cause must be noted on the case, all present in New Jersey vs. T.L.O. The court ruled that the search was justified and constitutional.