Question

Write one paragraph analyzing the Case of TLO found below. Please state your opinion on whether the search of TLO's property was a legal government search or an illegal government search. Please refer to at least one of the "exceptions" to the warrant requirement that you learned about in the previous assignment (AG-18). (6 pts)

Answer 1

Here is a one paragraph analysis of the Case of TLO:

Based on the details provided, I believe the search of TLO's purse was a legal government search under the "reasonable suspicion" exception to the warrant requirement. The principal had reasonable suspicion that TLO was violating school rules and policies based on reports from teachers of her smoking in the bathroom. This gave the principal justification to search TLO's purse, where he found evidence of her violating additional school rules. While students retain some privacy rights, in a school setting administrators are granted more leeway to conduct searches if they have reasonable suspicion of wrongdoing. Given the initial reports of TLO smoking, the principal was acting legally and within his authority to search her purse without a warrant. Though personal property, the lowered expectation of privacy makes this a permissible search.

Step-by-step explanation:

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