n.j. v. tlo
Year: 1984
Result: 6-3, favor N.J.
Related Constitutional issue/Amendment: 4th Amendment (unreasonable search and seizure)
Civil rights or Civil liberties: Civil liberties
Significance/precedent: A teacher or administrator is not required to have probable cause for a search when a student is on school property. A warrant is also not needed for a search. However students can expect to maintain some level of individual privacy while at school. Schools do not have to maintain the same standards as police when conducting searches.
Quote from majority opinion: "Because the search resulting in the discovery of the evidence of marihuana dealing by T.L.O. was reasonable, the New Jersey Supreme Court's decision to exclude that evidence from T.L.O.'s juvenile delinquency proceedings on Fourth Amendment grounds was erroneous."
Summary of dissent: The use of "reasonableness" to justify the search (instead of probable clause) is not set by any precedent and weakens the protection of citizens' rights under the 4th Amendment. The security and privacy that the 4th Amendment typically provides students is threatened by the "broad exception" the standards; an exception that was decided in this Case
6-word summary: "reasonableness" justifies public school search/seizure
Result: 6-3, favor N.J.
Related Constitutional issue/Amendment: 4th Amendment (unreasonable search and seizure)
Civil rights or Civil liberties: Civil liberties
Significance/precedent: A teacher or administrator is not required to have probable cause for a search when a student is on school property. A warrant is also not needed for a search. However students can expect to maintain some level of individual privacy while at school. Schools do not have to maintain the same standards as police when conducting searches.
Quote from majority opinion: "Because the search resulting in the discovery of the evidence of marihuana dealing by T.L.O. was reasonable, the New Jersey Supreme Court's decision to exclude that evidence from T.L.O.'s juvenile delinquency proceedings on Fourth Amendment grounds was erroneous."
Summary of dissent: The use of "reasonableness" to justify the search (instead of probable clause) is not set by any precedent and weakens the protection of citizens' rights under the 4th Amendment. The security and privacy that the 4th Amendment typically provides students is threatened by the "broad exception" the standards; an exception that was decided in this Case
6-word summary: "reasonableness" justifies public school search/seizure