The public school's right to search students' lockers. The school locker is usually the only private space available to a student in the school environment. So it focuses many of the major issues related to student privacy. The 4th Amendment of the United States Constitution states: “The right of the people to the security of their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrant shall issue, except upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and in particular describing the place to be searched and the person or things to be seized. "In the 1980 Supreme Court case, New Jersey v. TLO A teacher at Piscataway High School in Middlesex County, New Jersey, found TLO and a classmate smoking in the bathroom. A place where smoking was not permitted. The two girls were taken in the principal's office where TLO denied smoking in the bathroom. The vice principal asked to see TLO's bag. While searching the bag, school officials found a pack of cigarettes. They also found rolling papers, a pipe, marijuana and two letters with all the names of people who owed her money for dealing marijuana. TLO was taken to the police station where she confessed to selling drugs at school and was sentenced to one year of probation. The law differs by state to state since the 4th Amendment was amended to accommodate public school safety. The legislature has decided that it is necessary to change the level of suspicion of illegal activity needed to justify a search. They also decided that a balance is needed between the students and the school environment. The 4th Amendment has been changed from where probable cause and a warrant are needed to…halfway through the document…and they fear physical harm (uiuc.edu 2011). Approximately 40 students are injured or killed by gunfire and 260 teachers are physically attacked in your public school. I don't think it's too far of a step to stop this, going through someone's locker. Retrieved February 5, 2011, from http://www.essortment.com/articles/schools-right-search-lockers_103540.htmDebate. School searches. Retrieved February 5, 2011, from http://debatepedia.idebate.org/en/index.php/Debate:Student_Lockers,_school_right_to_searchinfoplease. Supreme Court Cases. Retrieved February 7, 2011, from http://www.infoplease.com/us/supreme-court/cases/ar24.htmlstudents.edu Retrieved February 21, 2011, from http://students.ed.uiuc.edu/jkelsey/surveillance /locker.htmifpo. International Foundation for Security Officers. Retrieved February 22, 201l. From http://www.ifpo.org/articlebank/heighten_security.html