Winter is underway! Which means it's a big time of the year for college students. They have finals to prepare for, winter break to look forward to, and then eventually, once all of that is done, it's time to come back to school and continue on for the rest of the season. With that in mind, that also gives us the ability to talk to you about something else more concerning that should be on the minds of all college students. 

Crimes are something that sees an increase in abundance in the winter season, and with all the stress and hard times that students go through in this time of the year, we think it's important to discuss how this all happens and run through how we can come in to defend you if you need it.

In this blog, we will break down some common WNY crimes that are committed over winter and/or winter break by college students and how we can defend you.

Highlighting The Most Prominent Crimes

Whether the crimes occur on or off campus, it's essential to at least acknowledge them. Students typically go home for break, but this isn't always the case, especially if you're in housing that is related to the university. Crimes that occur on campus or through the university will still result in criminal charges being brought forward, along with possible conviction. There is just a different process if you are facing criminal charges through the university. 

Here are the most well-known crimes from college students during the semester and during holiday break:

• Assault (Sexual or Aggravated)

• Stalking

• Driving While Influenced (DUI/DWI)

• Possession of Drugs

• Murder

All of these biggest examples come with more details involved in particular situations. Any particular case involving excessive drinking could lead to driving afterwards, or potential hazing that can lead to someone's death. 

It's important to distinguish what these mean in a broader context and how we, as criminal defense attorneys, can work with you to help with your defense. The same goes for anyone you might know who was involved as well. We are not here to judge but to simply educate you on how all of this works so that a criminal defense goes smoothly and without any issues.

Breaking Down The Crimes Through Criminal Defense

As we run through breaking down these crimes and their correlation to penalties and criminal defense, keep in mind that this is specifically related to how local Buffalo and Western New York schools operate. The laws will be different in other states, and we focus on New York State Law.

Driving While Influenced (DUI/DWI)

We know this; it's not unheard of, but during the college semester, alcohol is something that's consumed at a high rate by college students. It's very possible to think that someone might get behind the wheel after drinking for a while if they are also not under proper supervision. Here in New York State, drunk driving is classified as a misdemeanor, but it can be elevated to a felony with repeat offenses.

If you live on a college campus that feels close and compact with students always around each other and partying, you will most likely see a lot of this happen, especially if there are a lot of fraternities and sororities. We know that some colleges here in Buffalo and Western New York don't allow driving in the first year for a student, but eventually, in later years, you are permitted, and this allows more access for people to get behind the wheel. 

If a student is caught behind the wheel of a car that's not their own, even more penalties will follow. Negligent entrustment is what this is classified as, where a person is held liable for injuries caused by someone they provided with a dangerous item, in this case, a car. Lawsuits will come from this, and it will help the prosecution in the case even more.

The reality is that if you face DWI charges on campus, you are still going to need a DWI attorney, even if it's not in a city or county court. There is a university process that will require legal counsel to avoid you being penalized by the university, in addition to potential legal challenges. 

Title IX Violations at Buffalo Colleges

There are what are called Title IX Violations, and these go into detail about many of the other crimes we listed. Crimes like sexual harassment, domestic violence, stalking, and more. This gives protection to all kinds of students (including LGBTQ students, students with disabilities, and even international students) who can file a Title IX complaint at any one of the Buffalo and Western New York colleges here.

As we note on our Buffalo student defense page, these Title IX cases MUST be investigated by a college or university, and can come from omissions, actions, or wrongdoing, and anyone accused is considered innocent until proven guilty. This relates a lot to intent; intent is huge in criminal defense cases, regardless of whether it happens on a college campus or relates to another crime not related to this blog. Evidence based on intent and if the other side was clear about consent helps us as criminal defense lawyers. These details help us in a case, and that's why we want to educate you about it, especially when it relates to Title IX violations.

College Crimes FAQ

What are some of the most common crimes committed on campus?

To answer the question of what the most common crimes are on college campuses, it's sexual assault, drunk driving, stalking, drug possession, murder, and anything that relates to Title IX violations.

If you're looking for information related to the college you attend, there are many sources to look for! For example, the University of Buffalo is the biggest college here in Western New York, and you can find helpful information here: https://www.buffalo.edu/police/reporting/see-a-report/annual-report.html

We can defend students and faculty in Buffalo schools as well as SUNY schools, as we outline in a list of schools on our main Buffalo student defense page. If you have any more questions like this, you can get in touch with us through our contact form, and let us know if you need assistance in criminal defense!

DISCLAIMER: PAST RESULTS DO NOT GUARANTEE FUTURE RESULTS. THIS BLOG POST IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE, DANIEL DUBOIS AND/OR ANY DUBOIS LAW ATTORNEY(S) ARE NOT YOUR ATTORNEY(S) UNLESS RETAINED. INFORMATION SHARED HERE IS FOR INFORMATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. EACH CASE IS UNIQUE AND IS DECIDED BASED ON ITS OWN FACTS AND MERITS AND CANNOT BE COMPARED TO OTHER CASES WHICH MAY HAVE HAD DIFFERENT FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES.