newjerseyvtlo

**New Jersey v. T.L.O.**
(US Sup. Ct. 1985)

Petitioner (New Jersey) asked Court to reverse an ordered suppression of evidence and hold that a search of respondent’s purse was legal.
 * __Facts:__**

Respondent (T.L.O.) argued search was a violation of Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments

T.L.O was a fourteen-year-old; she was accused of smoking in the girls’ bathroom of her high school. School officials questioned her and searched her purse, yielding cigarettes, marijuana, and other drug related items. = = __**Issues/Answers**__ Did the search violate the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments? No. = = Legal Basis – U.S. Constitution Rationale – School officials legitimate need to maintain an environment in which learning can take place; searches are justified if they are “reasonable”
 * __Basis/Rationale__**

Student denied smoking; Assistant VP searched; found cigarettes and rolling papers; continued search based on papers and found marijuana, pipe, plastic bags, money, list of students who owed money, and two letters about dealing
 * __Notes__**

Court believed there must be some easing of restrictions when it comes to school. The presence of rolling papers gave rise to a “reasonable” suspicion that T.L.O. might have been carrying drugs, thus, justified the search of the purse.