Student Conduct at Local Universities
Student Conduct Defense Lawyers in Raleigh, NC
Every year, thousands of students enroll in North Carolina colleges and universities with the hopes of working towards a bright career and future. However, the college atmosphere can be full of temptations and unruly situations and access to that dream can be blocked in an instant due to a mistake or a simple misunderstanding. This is because a criminal conviction for a Raleigh arrest can easily postpone or even derail an academic career.
Students can also find themselves faced with a number of different policy violations - from those academic in nature, to those non-academic. If you have been accused of violating student conduct policies at your university or college, hiring an attorney can help you protect your interests and rights. Violations of student codes of conduct are not criminal charges, but they can lead to a disciplinary hearing along with academic penalties including being dismissed from school.
The outcome of the criminal charges and on-campus student conduct charges can be critical in determining the student's future in academia and the job market. An experienced Raleigh student conduct/criminal defense lawyer can help fight to protect the student's future by presenting a customized, comprehensive case against any of these academic, nonacademic, or criminal charges.
Call (919) 441-1799 today to get in touch with Clifford Law Group!
College Student Conduct Defense Attorney
When a student is arrested for a crime, his or her academic future is on the line. If you are a student at Duke University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-Chapel Hill), North Carolina State University (NC State), East Carolina University, UNC-Charlotte, Elon, Wake Forest, or any other educational institution in North Carolina and you are facing criminal charges or student conduct charges, the skilled student conduct defense lawyers of Clifford Law Group can help you fight to protect your academic interests and your career from a damaging conviction.
Clifford Law Group will work directly with you to determine the best possible defense strategy
for your particular case, giving specific attention to your hopes for the future. Your first consultation concerning your pending disciplinary and/or criminal case as a student in Raleigh or the surrounding Triangle area is free, so call Clifford Law Group at
(919) 441-1799 or contact us on our online form today and see what our knowledgeable
criminal defense attorneys can do in protecting your future.
Aggressive Representation
Compassionate Counsel
If you are facing a complex legal matter, it is vital that you retain the immediate representation of Clifford Law Group. The right attorney may make all the difference in the outcome of your case. Make the smart choice – enlist the supportive assistance of our Raleigh natives today.
Rules of Major Colleges in North Carolina
Every institution of higher learning in has its own code of conduct that establishes expectations of students. Certain violations are common among prominent universities, but the procedures for hearings can differ depending on the college.
Some of the policies of institutions in the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area include:
- Duke Disciplinary Violations
- Duke Disciplinary Hearings
- NC State Disciplinary Hearings
- NC State Student Disciplinary Violations
- UNC-Chapel Hill Honor Code Sanctions and Operating Procedures
- UNC-Chapel Hill Honor Code Violations
Common Criminal Offenses of North Carolina College Students
As much as a student's tenure at a college or university can be a time for learning, personal growth, and higher education, it can also be a time of exploration, experimentation, and boundary-pushing. This can result in a mistake being made or a general misunderstanding, leading to a student's arrest for a criminal offense. These criminal offenses are usually related to drugs and alcohol, such as those found at parties or in unconventional study techniques.
A skilled Raleigh defense attorney can defend a college or university student against any of the following offenses common to those students in North Carolina:
- Disorderly conduct
- Underage possession of alcohol
- Possession of marijuana for personal use
- Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute
- Possession of a Controlled Substance
- Prescription Drug Charges
- DWI and DWI under 21
- Fake ID possession
- Assault
- Sexual assault or battery
All of these offenses have serious penalties and can come with significant repercussions on your future. A strong, customized defense strategy is important to fight these charges, and a qualified defense attorney in Raleigh can offer you just that.
North Carolina Consequences for College Student Convictions
The consequences you will face if convicted of a North Carolina misdemeanor or felony criminal offense depend on the nature and severity of the offense. The basic punishment for these offenses is usually a fine and/or jail or prison time, the cost and length of which is determined by specific laws. Additionally, you could also face probation, community service, restitution, a driver's license suspension, or other consequences determined by the type of offense.
But being convicted of a criminal offense will do more to your educational opportunities and future than take money and time away from the considerable investment you have made in your college or university - both misdemeanor and felony convictions go on your criminal record, which is viewable by a potential employer during a background check. Convictions for specific offenses, such as a drug crime, can make you ineligible for certain professional opportunities, such as in the medical and nursing fields.
A felony conviction will prevent you from pursuing certain other educational or professional opportunities, restrict civil rights such as owning a weapon, and otherwise impair your future. In addition to these criminal sanctions, your college or university is likely to bring disciplinary action against you, which could result in other sanctions like expulsion or academic probation. Any criminal charge while you are a North Carolina college or university student is a threat to your future; working with a skilled criminal defense lawyer in Raleigh to build a comprehensive defense strategy could reduce or nullify that threat.
Disciplinary Procedures of Universities for North Carolina Criminal Offenses
As a student of a university or college, you have agreed to follow a code of conduct. Violating this code of conduct, such as committing certain criminal offenses, is a serious matter which the school often initiates disciplinary proceedings. Disciplinary proceedings can be brought whether or not the alleged incident occurred on or off campus.
Because the expectations for student conduct at each North Carolina college or university are different, the actions that cause disciplinary action to begin are just as different. Some colleges or universities are more liberal with general conduct codes, and some are more conservative with an extensive list of specific offenses. It is important to note that not all criminal offenses in North Carolina are violations of your college or university's code of conduct, and not all code of conduct violations are North Carolina criminal offenses. However, the two areas often overlap in offenses common to North Carolina college or university students, such as drug possession and drunk driving.
When it comes to Duke University, UNC-Chapel Hill, and NC State, the type of hearing or other disciplinary proceeding depends on the type and severity of the offense.
At these North Carolina schools, when the issue comes before a hearing, the procedure usually goes as follows:
- Introductions
- Plea
- Opening comments from complainant, when applicable
- Opening comments from accused
- Questions
- Testimony or questions of other material witnesses, when applicable
- Closing comments from complainant, when applicable
- Closing comments from accused
The board or other adjudicating party then determines if the party is responsible or guilty, and if sanctions are necessary. Sanctions can include suspension, expulsion, degree revocation, or a permanent notice in your academic record. All of these sanctions can have a serious impact on your academic and professional future.
At any public university in North Carolina, such as NC State or UNC-Chapel Hill, you have a right to have a criminal defense attorney representing you in most disciplinary matters, except academic dishonesty issues. Even at a private university, like Duke, that limits the role of attorneys to serving as advisors who cannot address hearing panels, a skilled Raleigh defense lawyer can help you work through the potential consequences of your criminal offense and fight to protect your rights and your future in court procedures.
Defense Lawyer for Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill Students
If you are a student at Duke University, UNC-Chapel Hill, NC State, or any of the other numerous educational institutions in the Wake County, Durham County, or Orange County area, including Raleigh, Chapel Hill, and Durham, and are facing criminal charges, call the passionate criminal defense attorneys of Clifford Law Group. They will work directly with you to find a favorable solution to your case, such as reduced or dismissed charges, first-time offender programs, or diversion programs.
To schedule your free initial case consultation with Clifford Law Group, call (919) 441-1799 or contact us on our online form today.