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. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom