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Know your rights! Youth justice and juvenile law answers.

Askthejudge.info features regular updates from the news, important decisions from the nation′s courts, and online discussions with Judge Tom. Find out everything you need to know about youth rights, juvenile law and juvenile justice. AsktheJudge – Empowering youth one question at a time.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this site is made available to the general public and is not intended to serve as legal advice.You should consult a trained legal professional in your area for questions you may have about the laws affecting juveniles or any legal interpretations.

Copyright, 2014
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April 8, 2010
Judge Tom
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1

Should you expect privacy in the bathrooms at school?

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It sounds like a silly question, doesn’t it? Of course you expect privacy even if it’s a public restroom. Just because you’re at school and because you’re a minor, you still have what courts have called a “reasonable expectation of privacy” in your locker, backpack, showers and locker room.

Blyzz(flickr)

The privacy right, however, is not absolute – under certain circumstances the school administration may search your locker or personal belongings. If there is a “reasonable suspicion” that a school rule or law is being broken, then a search may be conducted. However, the law does not permit invading your space in the restroom by use of cameras.

Crestwood Middle School in Florida had a problem with graffiti in some of the bathrooms. In an attempt to stop the vandalism, the principal had installed fake surveillance cameras. Word spread quickly to parents who objected even though the cameras weren’t real. They argued that even a fake camera can intrude into a child’s privacy by evoking the feeling of being watched. Parents also wondered about what else the school was doing along those lines.

The cameras have been removed and some parents are considering filing a lawsuit against the school.

How would you react to a camera in a school locker room or bathroom even if it was a fake? Would it’s presence bother you like some of the students at Crestview who waited until they got home? Do you think since the school removed the cameras that a lawsuit is appropriate? Why or why not?

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Judge Tom

The Author Judge Tom

Judge Tom is the founder and moderator of AsktheJudge.info. He is a retired juvenile judge and spent 23 years on the bench. He has written several books for lawyers and judges as well as teens and parents including 'Teen Cyberbullying Investigated' (Free Spirit Publishing) and 'Every Vote Matters: the Power of Your Voice, from Student Elections to the Supreme Court' (Free Spirit Publishing). In 2020, the American Bar Association published "Cyberbullying Law," the nation's first case-law book written for lawyers, judges and law students. When he's not answering teens' questions, Judge Tom volunteers with the American Red Cross and can be found hiking, traveling and reading.

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1 Comment

  • Kelly
    May 5, 2010 4:53 pm count( 0 )

    lawsuit, no. But fake cameras in the bathrooms are just weird.