Strip-search a rights violation

The educational authorities in the case Safford Unified School District v. April Redding should be held financially responsible for their actions.

Last Thursday, the Supreme Court ruled that Arizona teenager Savana Redding was unlawfully searched by Safford Middle School officials in 2003 when she was 13. The search was prompted when another student suggested that Redding was hiding two pills, similar in strength to prescription ibuprofen. But no pills were found.

The Arizona school district bans prescription and over-the-counter medications without advance permission. In the court’s decision, the school had the right to search Redding’s backpack and outer clothes on reasonable suspicion, but the district went too far when they searched her underwear.

Although the case shows that the search in Arizona lacked an indication of danger to other students from the strength and quantity of the drugs, an issue arises in how officials should act in future situations.

More eminent and dangerous situations may come up in the future, but what should matter in this situation is that an underage teenage girl was unreasonably searched.

Redding’s rights as a citizen were violated, and this case should be especially sensitive given that she was a minor at the time.

Although the search was performed in front of a female nurse, this does not account for the humiliation and embarrassment that Redding may have experienced.

Kerry Wilson, the vice principal of the middle school and the one who ordered the search, also made Redding sit in a chair for more than four hours and did not call her parents during the incident.

Those who support Wilson argue that he was only looking out for the safety of the children he is responsible for in the middle school. But by failing to have Redding’s parents present, Wilson neglected that sole responsibility.

Because of the school district’s neglect, the civil courts should see that those involved are held financially responsible for the rights that were violated on a minor in an unreasonable search that proved her innocence.

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1 comments

AZ Teacher

Wed Jul 1 2009 21:18

Absolutely! As an Arizona teacher, you'd be surprised how many times we see this kind of abuse by district officials. For some reason, school leaders in Arizona tend to think they cannot be questioned nor reprimanded. Perhaps it is because teachers and students alike frequently lack the resources necessary to challenge them properly. Good for Redding for having the guts (and probably the cash) to follow through. Shame, shame Safford School District... you had a responsibility to safeguard Miss Redding, too.

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