Posted on 12/01/2005 11:12:40 AM PST by Pyro7480
A Jasper County mother says her 8th grade son found a video camera taping in the school bathroom this week. But now, he is the one in trouble.
Cindy Champion says her son, Mac Bedor, and a few of his friends took the camera out of the ceiling because they felt it violated their privacy. Champion says her son brought the camera home to show her that afternoon. She says when she contacted the Jasper County Comprehensive School, she found out high school principal, Howard Fore, put the camera there. She says Fore told her he put the camera in the boys' bathroom to catch students vandalizing. Champion says her son is now suspended for taking school property.
CINDY CHAMPION, MOTHER:
"I had told the high school principal, Mr. Fore, that he needed to come up with another solution. That this wasn't appropriate. His response to me was he was going to continue to film."
Jasper County Superintendent, Jay Brinson, sent a faxed response to Eyewitness News. Brinson says high school principal, Howard Fore, placed the camera in the bathroom last Sunday to control vandalism. He says Fore put the camera there "to discover the identity of those doing the damage." Brinson says the principal did tell Cindy Champion that the camera would be installed again. But in his statement Brinson says, "The camera was not placed back in the restroom, and will not be placed back in the restroom."
Eyewitness News tried to contact the Ocmulgee Circuit District Attorney about the legality of placing hidden cameras in public school rest rooms. He covers that area. Eyewitness News was not able to get in touch with him. But, Eyewitness News did talk with Bibb County District Attorney, Howard Simms. He says cameras in public school bathrooms are legal because schools have more leeway on privacy issues.
The principal should be under investigation.
Just a note from a former PI with some background in issues like this.
In most states, it is quite legal to place cameras in locations where there is no reasonable expectation of privacy. It is legal (at least in the Commonwealth of Virginia) to place a camera in a bathroom so long as it is not pointing inside of a stall (where someone would expect privacy). In an open area of a bathroom (where there are multiple stalls or urinals) you do not expect privacy. Anyone could walk in and see you in these locations.
You might be surprised at the number of retail stores that have cameras in their restrooms....
You nailed it!
Brownsville Station: Smoking in the Boys Room
What you are seeing are the Statist, "LEO-Uber-Alles", Authority-Is-G_D crowd here.
You may notice they are the first to defend Bad Cops, and blame "perps" for everything. This kid isn't even accused of ANYTHING, and some are painting him as a suspect or criminal!
It's been a staple here for a long time.
We don't know the story here. It's possible that kids were ripping towel dispensers off the wall, breaking mirrors, etc. And its also likely possible to put a camera in one of those bathrooms in a way that doesn't view kids in stall, and with the boys' backs to the camera's when they are using the urinal. Depending upon the vandalism and the placement of the camera, it might not be that bad of an idea.
I suspect that if you placed a camera in a public bathroom, that you would face some sort of legal action though.
Was there vandalism in the girl's bathroom that warrated a camera?
If you put cameras in the bathrooms, my kids will pee in your office.
Turn the principal and local DA in to the Feds for possession and distribution of child pornography.
He's probably been pulling his own while viewing the pictures. He needs to be fired at the least.
While having a camera in a bathroom might violate some statutes. It would not be child porn. Here is an excerpt from a group that accepts reports of illegal websites:What content isn`t child pornography?
* Text describing child pornography or explicit sexual behavior of/with children is not illegal.
* Child modeling sites, (i.e. childsupermodel.com) are not illegal. ASACP does not accept child-modeling sites as Sponsors or Approved Members, but these sites are legal.
* At this time animations, drawings and cartoons are legal.
* Child nudity does not always equal child pornography. The determining factor with child pornography is not whether the child is nude, partially nude, or fully clothed. The determining factor is what the child is doing and/or having done to him/her is.
I do not see a problem with keeping track of the bathroom. The camera could be preventing even more serious problems.
As for who is watching - the pervert issue---I'm not sure how to solve that. Who's monitoring the monitors?
So if the child is urinating, does that qualify as child pornography?
There is no good reason to put a camera in a children's bathroom. I would have taken it out too.
If I were the parents, I would be pressing the School District with legal action.
I'm researching relevant USC and GA statutes right now.
What is not taught is an honor system, a system that depends upon individuals to practice civil discourse.
I for one would not convict him for stealing, no more than I would convict the players in the Boston Tea Party of any crime.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.