Outline of the state of South Carolina
State
South Carolina
Authorized with comprehensive student protections

Category
Student Searches

Category
Student Searches

State law authorizes districts to adopt policies or rules addressing search and seizure that include comprehensive student protections.

South Carolina Code of Laws 59-63-1110. Consent to search person or his effects.

Any person entering the premises of any school in this State shall be deemed to have consented to a reasonable search of his person and effects.

Policy Type
Statute

South Carolina Code of Laws 59-63-1120. Searches by school administrators or officials with or without probable cause.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, school administrators and officials may conduct reasonable searches on school property of lockers, desks, vehicles, and personal belongings such as purses, bookbags, wallets, and satchels with or without probable cause.

Policy Type
Statute

South Carolina Code of Laws 59-63-1130. Searches by principals or their designees.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, school principals or their designees may conduct reasonable searches of the person and property of visitors on school premises.

Policy Type
Statute

South Carolina Code of Laws 59-63-1140. Strip searches prohibited.

No school administrator or official may conduct a strip search.

Policy Type
Statute

South Carolina Code of Laws 59-63-1150. Compliance with case law; training of school administrators.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, all searches conducted pursuant to this article must comply fully with the “reasonableness standard” set forth in New Jersey v. T.L.O., 469 U.S. 328 (1985). All school administrators must receive training in the “reasonableness standard” under existing case law and in district procedures established to be followed in conducting searches of persons entering the school premises and of the students attending the school.

Policy Type
Statute

South Carolina Code of Laws 59-63-1160. Posting of notice; costs of notice to be paid by State; effect of failure to post notice.

Notice must be conspicuously posted on school property informing the provisions of this article.

The notice must be posted at least at all regular entrances and any other access point to the school grounds.

The costs of posting the notice required by this section must be paid by the State. No school or school district shall be required to incur any financial obligation for complying with the notice requirements contained in this section. The failure to post the notice provided in this section shall not constitute a defense to any civil action or criminal prosecution and shall not constitute grounds for any legal liability.

Policy Type
Statute