If you are a college student accused of committing a crime, you need to take the charges against you seriously. A conviction of a criminal offense can result in steep fines and jail time, in addition to having lasting effects on your academic and professional career.
Even a short lapse in judgment can burden you with a permanent criminal record that can make you ineligible for grants, financial aid, and honors programs. Although facing criminal charges and disciplinary proceedings while maintaining your grades and other responsibilities can be overwhelming, you do not have to go through this difficult time alone.
Grand Rapids student defense lawyers have experience defending college students against all types of criminal charges, and can help you avoid the prospect of graduating with a permanent criminal record.
Common ChargesBecause college is a time of experimentation and freedom, many young people find themselves engaging in behavior that they later come to regret. Drug and alcohol use is common on many college campuses, leading to impaired judgment and situations that are rife with conflict. Most student defendants who find themselves charged with criminal behavior were either in the wrong place at the wrong time, or simply got carried away.
Our student defense attorneys in Grand Rapids can help students facing any number of criminal charges, including:
In addition to the serious penalties that may result from a criminal conviction, many students who have been accused of crimes also find themselves facing disciplinary measures from their colleges. All institutions of higher learning require their students to abide by a code of conduct always, and committing a crime constitutes a violation of most of these codes.
Thus, student defendants often find themselves needing legal representation not only in the criminal justice system, but in their private academic disciplinary proceedings as well. Academic disciplinary measures may include mandatory counseling, probation, suspension, or even expulsion from the college.
A student defense attorney in Grand Rapids with experience representing students in these types of internal proceedings can help their clients present their side of the story to the academic committee and argue for leniency while keeping the students best interests in mind.
Consequences of a ConvictionSerious criminal charges can result from engaging in a variety of behaviors that are common on most campuses, including the use of alcohol and drugs. Certain charges can lead to felony convictions, resulting in serious jail time and a permanent criminal record.
However, even minor crimes can detrimentally harm a young professional’s career, as criminal convictions must typically be disclosed to academic or honors programs. In addition, colleges often enforce their own disciplinary actions on students who have engaged in criminal behavior.
How an Attorney Can HelpWhile obtaining experienced legal assistance is the best way to maximize a student’s chances of beating or reducing the criminal charges they are facing, a student defense attorney can also help clients represent themselves when facing their school’s academic disciplinary committee.
An experienced student defense attorney in Grand Rapids will be able to professionally argue the student’s case in both forums to minimize the potential negative consequences of a conviction.
If you are a student in the Grand Rapids area facing criminal charges, it is in your best interests to get experienced legal help right away. There is too much at stake to attempt to navigate the criminal justice and academic disciplinary systems alone.