Locker Searches

Locker searches are common occurrences in American public schools. The use of locker searches has proliferated in recent years due to continuing threats of drugs and violence. Many school officials view locker searches as an indispensable tool to deter negative behaviors, and on the whole, lower courts seem clearly to side with the efforts of school officials to curb crime by conducting locker searches. While recent acts of violence in schools justify their use, students' privacy interests and school safety should be equally balanced. Although locker searches may represent a minimally intrusive search, their unchecked use could very well weaken students' expectations of privacy. This entry reviews the case law on this issue.