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Drug-testing Cases

NCJ Number
118097
Journal
Trial Volume: 25 Issue: 6 Dated: (June 1989) Pages: 14,16,18,19
Author(s)
D A Farber
Date Published
1989
Length
4 pages
Annotation
The Supreme Court recently decided two cases relating to drug testing which have important implications to workers in many fields of employment.
Abstract
In the first case, Skinner v. Railway Labor Executives' Association, 109 S.Ct. 1402 (1989), the Court upheld administrative regulations governing the testing of railroad workers. It was found that the government's interest in railroad safety was a "special need" and therefore made warrant and probable-cause requirement for the Fourth amendment impracticable. In the second case, National Treasury Employees Union v. Von Raab, 109 S.Ct. 1384 (1989), the drug testing was not designed to find evidence of drug use, but rather to deter drug users from applying for certain jobs. The Court upheld drug testing for customs workers who apply for or hold jobs that involve drug enforcement or guns.

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