Safety Law News for July 21, 2017

  • In Missouri, the Missouri court of Appeals ruled that the pat-down search of a student, pursuant to school policy authorizing searches of all students who arrive at school more than 30 minutes late, was unreasonable and thus unconstitutional under the Fourth Amendment. [State v. Williams].
  • In New Jersey, officials in Barnegat Township are taking advantage of a state law in which retired law enforcement personnel can work in public schools as Class III officers. A new township ordinance authorizes the move.  The new officers will supplement, not replace, school resource officers already in the schools.
  • In North Carolina, the Dalton Public Schools is implementing a random student drug-testing program this school year for all grade 6-12 students who participate in any extracurricular activities or receive a parking permit.  A committee of educators, school social workers, counselors, school nurses, school resource officers and the Northwest Georgia Healthcare Partnership worked together to develop the district’s random drug-testing plan.