08/24/2010 // West Palm Beach, FL, USA // Sandra Quinlan // Sandra Quinlan
Sardis, MS—A school district investigation was launched after several students claimed they were forced to drop their pants while school officials allegedly searched them for drugs. Approximately eight boys were subject to the in-school strip search, though the students contend no drugs were found on campus that day, according to a Friday, August 20, 2010 WREG report.
An unidentified 17-year-old North Panola County High School student alleged he was taken into the bathroom of his school, where his principle told him to pull his pants down so he could be thoroughly searched.
“He said I know boys they hide drugs and stuff in their sack. So, that’s where we’re going to check and then he told us to drop our shorts and he went around each individual boy checking,” the 17-year-old said.
According to the mother of one of the students involved, “I hate that this happened to him and I don’t want it to happen to somebody else… I don’t think any child should have to drop their pants not an under-aged child.”
The strip search was apparently spurred after a drug dog hit on a student’s backpack. The North Panola County School District, along with appointed conservator Dr. Oscar Love, the seasoned Memphis City Schools principal, to conduct a full probe into the allegations.
Nonetheless, an attorney for the North Panola School Board maintained, “Anytime a search or anything or any kind of activity going on in the school district our primary focus is the safety of the students in the North Panola County School District.”
Investigations continue.
Legal News Reporter: Sandra Quinlan– Legal News for Mississippi Civil Rights Lawyers.
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