J.A. v. Town of Tiverton

  • Filed: 12/03/2015
  • Status: Closed
  • Latest Update: Dec 03, 2015
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Summary

This is a federal lawsuit against Tiverton police and school officials over an incident in which an 8-year-old girl was removed from a school bus, had her belongings searched, was taken alone to the police station without her parents’ knowledge, and then held and questioned at the police station for several hours before being released. The seizure, detention, and interrogation of the young child were based solely on unsubstantiated claims from another child that the girl was carrying “chemicals” in her backpack, and occurred even after the police found nothing suspicious in the backpack. Current Status: Lawsuit successfully settled in June 2017.

Attorney(s):
Amato A. DeLuca & Miriam Weizenbaum

News & Commentary

Jun 20, 2017

ACLU Settles Case on Behalf of Third Grader Searched and Arrested Without Cause

The American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island today announced the settlement of a federal lawsuit against Tiverton police and school officials over a 2014 incident in which an 8-year-old girl was removed by police from a school bus, taken alone to the police station without her parents’ knowledge, and then held and questioned at the station for several hours before being released. The seizure, detention and interrogation of the young child were based solely on unsubstantiated claims from another child that the girl was carrying “chemicals” in her backpack, and occurred even after the police found nothing in the backpack.

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Dec 03, 2015

ACLU Sues Tiverton On Behalf of Third Grader Searched And Arrested Without Cause

The American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island today filed a federal lawsuit against Tiverton police and school officials over an incident in which an 8-year-old girl was removed from a school bus, had her belongings searched, was taken alone to the police station without her parents’ knowledge, and then held and questioned at the police station for several hours before being released. The seizure, detention and interrogation of the young child were based solely on unsubstantiated claims from another child that the girl was carrying “chemicals” in her backpack, and occurred even after the police found nothing in the backpack.

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Learn More About the Issues in This Case

Due Process Privacy Students’ Rights View All Issues

Related News & Podcasts

News & Commentary
Jun 20, 2017
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  • Privacy|
  • +1 Issue

ACLU Settles Case on Behalf of Third Grader Searched and Arrested Without Cause

The American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island today announced the settlement of a federal lawsuit against Tiverton police and school officials over a 2014 incident in which an 8-year-old girl was removed by police from a school bus, taken alone to the police station without her parents’ knowledge, and then held and questioned at the station for several hours before being released. The seizure, detention and interrogation of the young child were based solely on unsubstantiated claims from another child that the girl was carrying “chemicals” in her backpack, and occurred even after the police found nothing in the backpack.
News & Commentary
Dec 03, 2015
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  • Due Process|
  • +2 Issues

ACLU Sues Tiverton On Behalf of Third Grader Searched And Arrested Without Cause

The American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island today filed a federal lawsuit against Tiverton police and school officials over an incident in which an 8-year-old girl was removed from a school bus, had her belongings searched, was taken alone to the police station without her parents’ knowledge, and then held and questioned at the police station for several hours before being released. The seizure, detention and interrogation of the young child were based solely on unsubstantiated claims from another child that the girl was carrying “chemicals” in her backpack, and occurred even after the police found nothing in the backpack.