- In Indiana, the Indiana Court of Appeals suppressed the statements of a student to a school official admitting placing graffiti on the walls of the boys’ restrooms. The administrator immediately told a police officer, who entered the office, spoke to the student and arrested him. The officer did not advise the student of his constitutional rights nor contact a parent. [D.Z. v. State of Indiana]
- In Rhode Island, legislation is being introduced to amend the education code to require one school resource officer in every public school, and to require two officers when the school’s student body is more than 1,200.
- In Florida, the Broward County Sheriff is implementing a new policy that allows deputies guarding county schools to carry rifles, including AR-15s. The officers will keep rifles locked in school offices during the day and take them home at night.
- In Arkansas, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit ruled that parents of a student who died by suicide failed to show that school district acted in bad faith by failing to adequately protect him from being bullied as required to state a claim under § 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, 29 U.S.C. § 794. [Estate of Barnwell v. Watson]