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How universities address assault charges in Virginia

On Behalf of | Sep 5, 2019 | Firm News |

One of the most terrifying situations is being charged with assault charges as a college student. You should be focusing on exams and fraternity parties, not the possibility of jail time, but it’s a situation that many students go through.

Unfortunately, most students must go through court proceedings in their local city and disciplinary hearings in their universities, which creates a false sense of security for most kids.

Fighting a disciplinary proceeding

While most students are afraid of the courtroom, they also need to be hesitant of a disciplinary hearing. While disciplinary hearings do not involve formal criminal charges, it does lead to severe consequences that changes a student’s future in the blink of an eye.

For example, it’s up to the universities to decide an appropriate punishment for their students. It could lead to a slap on the wrist or full-on expulsion in some cases, such as assault.

If a student is accused of assault or serious crimes, school officials will likely kick the student out of school permanently, which means huge loans and limited options for the student’s career. Also, they lose out on all the work they already put into their coursework and reduce their options for other schools.

It is crucial for students to fight for protections during a disciplinary hearing, despite what the charges may be. Luckily, most colleges allow students to bring an attorney with them to the hearing to act on their behalf and reduce pressure off the student.

The right lawyer may ensure a student’s future is open to all opportunities, instead of limited by a permanent mark on your transcript.