According to statistics, property crime in the U.S. is much more common than violent crime. However, from the perspective of a young person moving their way through life, committing a crime while in college could be just as damaging to their future. In this blog, we are laying out several things that you need to know with regard to college crimes and the consequences they would bring to your education, and how we can defend it.

The Consequences No Matter the Crime

There's no question that there are certain types of criminal acts that carry different sets of punishments. The point that this blog will make is that you would be doing yourself a disservice no matter which one you involve yourself in. Your education might be put on hold or revoked, you might be placed on probation, kicked out of any school clubs or school boards, kicked off sports teams, and then the worst of it all, lose your financial aid completely. 

Another major aspect of a consequence that would render the punishments harsher is that, from an institutional perspective, the college is not going to try to give you a second chance. This is mainly to do with the fact that when you commit a crime, it looks even worse on the school because they'll be blamed for not doing a good enough job of presenting the rules and regulations, facing legal liability. 

Regulatory scrutiny from government agencies and other authorities may also come from this. It can damage the reputation of the institution, affecting recruitment efforts and donor contributions. That kind of thing may affect your chance at getting back into college anywhere, rendering an education potentially never happening, along with a future career.

Common Crimes that DuBois Can Defend in WNY Colleges

Sexual Harassment
Sex-Based Harassment
Gender Discrimination
Sexism
Sexual Assault
Sexual Exploitation
Sexual Violence, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence
Non-consensual sexual contact or intercourse
Stalking
Retaliation
Possession of Drugs or alcohol
Supplying Alcohol to Minors
Misdemeanor or Felony Assault
Public Drunkenness
Public Urination
Theft
Drug Charges
Sexual Assault
Criminal Trespass
Vandalism
DWI, DWAI
Underage Drinking
Menacing/Stalking
Breaking & Entering

DuBois Law has offices in Buffalo, Clarence, and Rochester. We also represent students from all local colleges here in Buffalo and WNY, and can defend these crimes in SUNY schools and community colleges such as Geneseo or even ECC.

What to Do If You're Accused of a College Crime

Let's hypothetically say you did commit a crime or could commit one in the future, you need to know what to do if you're accused, learn your rights and the rules of law, abide by university policies when handling it, and also learn about how an attorney can help you in these situations. Universities are separate from the criminal justice systems, and that's why we want you to be aware of this as much as possible. 

Some universities may use a "preponderance of the evidence" standard, which is lower than the "beyond a reasonable doubt" standard used in criminal trials. Preponderance of the evidence might refer to the notion that a fact is more likely to be true than not true. Beyond a reasonable doubt is when the prosecution must present evidence that leaves no reasonable doubt about the defendant's guilt.

This is why we can't recommend enough that you speak with the attorneys at DuBios Law, who understand both criminal law and university disciplinary procedures. Read more on our Buffalo Student Defense page and reach out to us if you have any questions!

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.