Is the use of drug dogs in schools justified? I think that the use of drug dogs is a violation of privacy and it isn’t lawful.
Bringing a drug-sniffing dog onto someone's porch is a search (requiring a warrant) because people have a reasonable expectation of privacy in their own homes. The same cannot be said of public schools, where students do not have a reasonable expectation of privacy. When drug dogs are used to search for contraband in schools, police are careful not to open backpacks or inspect students' belongings unless the dog signals that drugs are present. We can all agree that drug use and abuse among high school students is a serious concern. And most would agree that high schools should take measures to foster a drug-free environment.
Bringing a drug-sniffing dog onto someone's porch is a search (requiring a warrant) because people have a reasonable expectation of privacy in their own homes. The same cannot be said of public schools, where students do not have a reasonable expectation of privacy. When drug dogs are used to search for contraband in schools, police are careful not to open backpacks or inspect students' belongings unless the dog signals that drugs are present. We can all agree that drug use and abuse among high school students is a serious concern. And most would agree that high schools should take measures to foster a drug-free environment.