 
CCLA Fights Growing Use of Drug Dogs in Schools CCLA has gone to the Ontario Court of Appeal to challenge the growing use of drug dogs in the schools of our communities. The case concerns a warrantless search of a high school in Sarnia, ON, where police used a drug-detecting dog to aggressively sniff students' personal effects and belongings. The students had been required to leave their belongings in certain places, and were then "locked down" in their classrooms for the duration of the search. While agreeing that students have a reasonable expectation that they will be safe and secure at school, CCLA Special Counsel Jonathan Lisus and Christopher Wayland argued that students also have a legitimate expectation of respect for their personal privacy. Even if there is an argument for allowing the targeted use of drug dogs in the case where specific students are reasonably believed to be violating our drug laws, CCLA argued that this is no excuse to allow random canine investigations of all students. CCLA first learned of this widespread practice when a similar search elsewhere in Ontario prompted an irate parent to ask the organization for assistance. The Court has reserved judgment on the legality of these searches. | CCLA In The Schools | Join Us | Feedback | Search | Other Interesting Sites | Home |
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