Pubdate: Tue, 06 May 2008
Source: Standard Freeholder (Cornwall, CN ON)
Copyright: 2008 Osprey Media Group Inc
Contact:  http://www.standard-freeholder.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1169
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?237 (Drug Dogs)

SEARCH RULING CORRECTS ERROR

On the surface, the Supreme Court of Canada ruling that  outlaws 
random searches of student lockers by  drug-sniffing dogs looks like 
a major setback for  attempts by police and school officials to keep 
illegal  drugs out of schools.

The fact is, the ruling hardly puts a dent in the  practice while 
correcting an "oversight" in dealing  with non-adults.

In the ruling, the judges correctly pointed out that  teen-age 
students have the same rights as adults.

Police aren't allowed to carry out searches of lockers  at a fitness 
centre without a reasonable grounds and a  warrant, so why should 
teen-age students be treated any  differently when it comes to their 
school lockers?

The threat of random searches of lockers was seen as  one way of 
preventing drugs from being stashed inside  the school.

How effective the practice was is debatable.

It is important to note that police and drug-sniffing  dogs haven't 
been banned from schools. When armed with  reasonable suspicion, 
school officials can still ask  police to bring a drug-sniffing dog 
into the school to  carry out a search.

If anything, the ruling closes a loophole that could be  used to 
squash charges resulting from a random search.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom