> If the policy is that the student doesn't get the phone back at all, ... That policy is commonly called stealing -- though it probably has a more specific la

> If the policy is that the student doesn't get the phone back at all, ... That policy is commonly called stealing -- though it probably has a more specific label under law. Schools traditionally have been implement civil-asset forfeiture for small stuff because people rarely kick up a fuss, and the schools can quietly hand things back when they do. But if they start taking away people's smartphones there will be push-back.