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Know Your Rights: Student 4th Amendment Privacy in Schools

November 22, 2022

Imagine getting your phone searched for evidence of something you did not do. How would you feel? Should this be allowed?

Many students are unaware of their Fourth Amendment rights against unreasonable searches and seizures in school. Our panelists discussed the constitutional rights of students in schools and explored the issues of over-policing and the school-to-prison pipeline, as it relates to the 4th Amendment.

Panelists


Charity Kruzel graduated from Western New England University with a bachelor’s in psychology, participated in the 3+3 law program, and graduated from WNEU school of law in 2010. Kruzel has been an attorney with the Youth Advocacy Division for CPCS since February of 2011. Kruzel’s favorite part of her job is getting to meet new kids from all over Western Massachusetts. Charity Kruzel enjoys spending time with her two children, Lucas and Hannah, cooking, reading, and watching old movies.


Judge Jay Blitzman served as the First Justice of the Middlesex Division of the Juvenile Court, sitting in Lowell. Prior to his 24 year judicial career, Judge Blitzman was the founder and director of the Roxbury Youth Advocacy Project which became the basis for creating the statewide Youth Advocacy Division for Massachusetts’ public defender agency. He is currently the executive director of Massachusetts Advocates for Children. He also holds teaching positions at Harvard Law School, Northeastern Law School, and Boston College Law School. Judge Blitzman also serves on the faculty of the Center for Law Brain and Behavior and is an affiliate of the Boston University Center for Anti Racist Research. Judge Blitzman is a recipient of the ABA Livingston Hall Juvenile Justice Award and the state’s public agency presents the Jay Blitzman Award for Youth Advocacy annually. Judge Blitzman is a long-time supporter champion and supporter of Discovering Justice, having helped bring their programming to Lowell.


Mary Landergan taught Constitutional Law, Entertainment Law and an Intellectual Property Clinic at Northeastern Law School. Landergan also served as Counsel at Rich May PC. Earlier in her career, she worked as an attorney at CBS and ABC in NYC.

Rana Suh Kannan

Rana Suh Kannan

Rana Suh Kannan has spent nearly her entire 20+ year career dedicated to providing students with access to high-quality education experiences that lead to strong academic outcomes. She brings extensive and diverse experiences as a teacher, school administrator, funder, and nonprofit professional. Rana is committed to Discovering Justice’s mission to enable students to become well-equipped with the knowledge, skills, and desire to build and sustain an equitable democracy.

Prior to Discovering Justice, Rana spent seven years at Boston Schools Fund, most recently as the Chief Operating Officer. She co-led the development of the organization’s second fund, and ensured its operationalization across the organization. Previously, Rana played pivotal roles at organizations such as Salsify, Phoenix Charter Academy, The Achievement Network, and Roxbury Prep Charter School. Rana graduated from Williams College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Psychology. She earned her Master’s in Education Policy & Management from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Mehana Koch

Bianca Lora