Is it illegal to search a minor child?

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Is it illegal to search a minor child?

My son was in the vehicle with a friend who was pulled over. He had a cigarette in his hat that he didn’t know was there because it belonged to his friend who had been wearing his hat.

Asked on September 6, 2011 under Criminal Law, Iowa

Answers:

FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 12 years ago | Contributor

It is perfectly legal for law enforcement to search a minor child in the event there is a justifiable belief that there has been a crime committed to find evidence and/or for law enforcement to protect itself from harm.

From what little you have written about the underlying facts that you have written about, it may have been entirely reasonable for law enforcement to have searched your son after the vehicle he was riding in was pulled over by law enforcement.


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