Do I need a lawyer if my college student is accused of a crime?

Cohen Seglias Pallas Greenhall & Furman PC
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College is a time of freedom and independence for many students. However, with that independence comes an increased potential to run up against the law.

If your university student has been accused of a crime, you might be completely freaked out. That’s understandable – being arrested or charged with a crime is a scary experience for everyone.

But the good news is that you don’t need to face this alone. There are attorneys who can help protect your student and make sure their rights are respected.

In some cases, the student’s university will pursue separate disciplinary charges in addition to the legal charges. For this reason, we recommend hiring a student defense attorney to help guide you through this process.

Why a student defense attorney?

 

A defense attorney can help you navigate the bail process, prepare for their court dates, and mount a defense. A good defense attorney can negotiate a plea bargain to have your student’s sentence reduced, and in the best case scenario, even get your student’s charges dropped (or get them acquitted if their case goes to trial).

However, for many college students, criminal defense is only the first step. You may also need to defend your student’s academic future against the university’s disciplinary charges, which is why we recommend hiring a student defense attorney who can help your child with every step of the process.

University Discipline vs. Criminal Arrests

 

Just because your student has been arrested and charged with a crime doesn’t necessarily mean they will also face charges at their school.

The school will likely find out one way or another, as many schools have agreements with local law enforcement to notify them if one of their students is arrested.

However, whether the university pursues disciplinary charges depends on the individual school’s policies.

Another uncertain variable is what the consequences will be if your student is disciplined by the university. This likely depends on the severity of the crime, but disciplinary charges could potentially threaten a number of your student’s university privileges:

  • Academic standing
  • Student housing
  • Financial aid
  • Scholarships
  • Enrollment

These charges could even have an effect on your child’s future employment.

How a Student Defense Attorney Can Help

 

University disciplinary hearings are very different from criminal court cases. Your student isn’t in any legal trouble with their university – the school administration doesn’t have the power to fine them or put them in prison.

However, the consequences can still be very serious, and it’s important that your student’s rights are protected throughout the disciplinary process.

A student defense attorney will have experience navigating this process that a criminal defense attorney likely won’t.

Student defense attorneys can help you and your student go over the university’s materials, prepare any documentation or statements, and prevent your student from saying or doing something incriminating.

We know how university administrators think, so we can help make sure your student isn’t being treated unfairly, and secure the best outcome for them at the end of the process.

DISCLAIMER: Because of the generality of this update, the information provided herein may not be applicable in all situations and should not be acted upon without specific legal advice based on particular situations.

© Cohen Seglias Pallas Greenhall & Furman PC | Attorney Advertising

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