MichVandal
Well-known member
I don't even think you have to get into the "reasonable suspicion" issue. That's where you open yourself up to a dispute with the kid. Simply ask him to let you search. If they turn you down, get the kid out of there.
I just think it's a mistake to try to equate or compare the responsibility of the parents and that of the school. Two completely different responsibilities there, and when you do that you tend to minimize or reduce the culpability of the two parties. That sort of comparison of fault is best left to the civil case where there can only be 100% among all the parties.
Except this exact discussion has been brought up on this board. That's why I posted the follow up. The school may have some responsibility, perhaps criminal- but that's far from clear. The parents are being charged criminally- so the authorities do see them as significantly responsible.
From a civil standpoint, both are very exposed. And the parents could be sued into oblivion (or at least to the point of not being able to get insurance) and Oakland County tax payers will be footing the bill for some time. The irony of them being toward the personal responsibility and lack of government oversight is pretty thick- since the former didn't happen whereas the latter did. Yet for the former, there's a cheering section for them....