FILE:  JCABD

Cf:  JCAB, JCABA, JCDAB

 

USE OF DRUG DETECTION DOGS

 

 

The DeSoto Parish School Board shall authorize the use of trained dogs whose reliability and accuracy for sniffing out controlled substances, drugs, alcohol, guns, knives, weapons, or other materials or objects which are a violation of School Board policy have been established, to aid in the search for contraband in school-owned property and vehicles parked on school property.  Canines shall not be used to search students.  The canines must be accompanied by a qualified and authorized trainer who will be responsible for the dog’s actions.  An indication by the dog that drugs, alcohol, weapons, or any other item of violation is present on school property or in a vehicle shall be reasonable cause for further search by school officials.

 

DRUG DETECTION TEAM

 

The Drug Detection Team shall represent a joint effort between law enforcement agencies in DeSoto Parish.  The following guidelines shall ensure the effectiveness of the Drug Detection Team while safeguarding the rights of all concerned.  The Drug Detection Team shall consist of the following personnel:

 

  1. The Superintendent or his/her designee who will be in charge of the Team.

  2. A commissioned law enforcement officer with a trained drug detection dog. 

  3. The principal or designee of the school where the search is being conducted.

  4. Such other school personnel as may be designated by the school principal.

 

A demonstration to all high school and middle school students regarding the effectiveness of the drug detection dogs shall be performed as needed and the possibility of arrest and conviction for narcotics and other violations shall be explained.

 

SCHEDULING OF SEARCHES

 

Unannounced periodic checks of any school by the Drug Detection Team shall be conducted.  Searches of school campuses will be scheduled by the School Board Central Office in coordination with the school principal to ensure minimum interruption of scheduled activities at school.  The times and locations of the searches will not be announced to any person other than the principal to ensure the effectiveness of the program.

 

Searches may be requested by any member of the Drug Detection Team with the exception of the commissioned law enforcement officer; however, if law enforcement personnel have information concerning possible drugs on a campus, they may contact either the school principal or central office personnel to suggest the need for a search of a designated school.

 

CONDUCT OF SEARCHES

 

  1. Areas to be Searched

 

  1. Searches shall be limited to the unoccupied school grounds, unoccupied halls, unoccupied classrooms, unoccupied restrooms, lockers, other unoccupied areas, and unoccupied vehicles parked on campus.

  2. Under no circumstances shall a dog enter any room or vehicle that is occupied by any students.

  3. Physical searches of students by a dog is specifically prohibited.

  4. Physical searches of students shall be conducted in accordance with School Board policy.

 

  1. Personnel Responsibilities

 

  1. The representative from the School Board Office who shall be the director of the team will be responsible for all aspects of the search by the Drug Detection Team.

  2. The commissioned law enforcement officer who is serving as the handler of the drug detection dog shall perform his/her duties under the general supervision of the director of the Team.   

  3. The school principal or designee shall perform the actual search for the suspected illegal drugs when the presence of such has been detected by the drug detection dog.

 

PROCEDURE FOR SEARCH AND SEIZURE

 

  1. When the drug detection dog “alerts” to the presence of drugs, the principal or designee shall conduct a physical search of the locker, premises, or vehicle.

  2. Any suspected illegal drugs discovered during the search shall be confiscated and turned over to the commissioned law enforcement officer for custody.  A receipt for the suspected drugs, signed by the law enforcement officer, shall be given to the student and a copy of the receipt shall be given to the principal.  The receipt shall contain the following information:

 

  1. The name of the student(s),

  2. The names of all members of the Drug Detection Team,

  3. The identification and quantities of the items confiscated,

  4. The location from which confiscated, and

  5. The time and date of the search and seizure.

 

  1. The commissioned law enforcement officer shall ensure that an appropriate report is made to the District Attorney of DeSoto Parish to indicate the items confiscated in the search.

  2. The principal shall ensure that the required report form is completed and delivered to the chairman of the School Substance Abuse Prevention Team for use in counseling the student and parents.

  3. The principal shall ensure that the parents of the student from whom the suspected drugs were confiscated are advised of the incident and informed that a report has been submitted to the School Substance Abuse Prevention Team.

  4. The principal shall complete any required disciplinary forms as needed concerning the student’s disciplinary violation and violation of the School Drug-Free Zone.  The procedure shall be in compliance with current state law governing possession of drugs on a school campus.

 

Approved:  August, 2004

 

 

Ref:    La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§14:403.1, 17:81, 17:405, 17:416, 17:416.3

Board minutes, 11-7-84, 2-2-95

 

DeSoto Parish School Board