Question

Prompt: Write a well-developed argument essay in which you take a position on whether the actions committed by school employees as outlined in the court case violated the student's Fourth Amendment rights.

Consider whether adopting the cell phone policy found in the memo would have been sufficient to defend school officials against the counts initially filed against them in the lawsuit. Examine the court's analysis of the case to decide whether different school rules would have affected the decision in this lawsuit.

Remember to establish a complete thesis statement, including a claim and reasons, and to recognize and address counterclaims. Use evidence from both source documents to support your ideas.

Answer 1

The actions in the court case did not violate the student's Fourth Amendment rights. Adopting the cell phone policy in the memo could have helped school officials defend themselves. The court's ruling in New Jersey v. T.L.O. was based on the reasonable suspicion standard.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Fourth Amendment protects individuals from illegal searches and seizures of their property. In the case of New Jersey v. T.L.O., a high school student's purse was searched by a school administrator, which led to the discovery of incriminating evidence. The court ultimately ruled that the search was reasonable and did not violate the student's Fourth Amendment rights.

Considering the cell phone policy mentioned in the memo, it is important to note that adopting such a policy might have helped the school officials defend themselves against counts filed against them in the lawsuit. If the policy clearly stated that students' belongings, including cell phones, could be searched based on reasonable suspicion, it could provide legal grounds for the search.

However, it is essential to examine the court's analysis of the specific case to determine the impact of different school rules on the decision. The court's ruling in New Jersey v. T.L.O. was based on the reasonable suspicion standard, which allows school officials to conduct searches if they have a reasonable belief that a student has violated the law or school policies.