DC Student Offense Penalties

The DC student offense penalties depend on the nature of the crime. The student could be facing criminal consequences if it is a violation of criminal code. Law enforcement could be involved, and the person could face charges or consequences in D.C. Superior Court or criminal court. The university or college repercussions could be many. For instance, they could suffer a loss of a scholarship, suspension, or expulsion.

If you have been charged with an offense on campus, contact a seasoned student defense lawyer today. A dedicated attorney could advocate for you and help you reach a favorable result in your situation.

Minor Violations on Campus

If the student committed a minor offense and there was not much harm done, the penalty could be a verbal or written warning. In this situation, the offense may not go on the student’s record. However, someone who has committed a minor crime may be facing probation. Under probation, if the student commits any additional offenses, they could face significant consequences. The repercussions could involve restrictions of certain privileges on campus or denied access to certain areas of campus. It could be more significant than that, for example, a student could lose campus housing or be kicked off campus in terms of their living situation.

Serious Student Offenses

The DC student offense penalties are more severe if the student commits a significant offense. For instance, they could be suspended from school for a period of time. They could also be expelled, and their time at the university would be terminated. They would have to figure out if they want to go to a new school or what they are going to do. It depends on the nature of the specific infraction and what the student’s background is, such as if they were responsible or found guilty of any other offenses in the time that they were enrolled as a student.

A serious student offense will include sexual assault, drinking underage, possession of drugs, or a violent crime.

Seeking Legal Representation

When a campus decides to deal with a disciplinary matter in a way that keeps it contained within the school of conduct system and excluded law enforcement, students may not seek legal representation. In those situations, most of the time, the student may not be represented by an attorney. They could certainly consult with an attorney, but they may not be represented by an attorney, meaning the student will have to communicate the dialogue directly with the university. This includes both electronic communications on the phone and at any meetings or hearings. The university is allowed to do this because the student is not facing any legal jeopardy. Therefore, the constitutional right to have an attorney is not implicated.

Another reason the school may deny legal representation is so it could have more control over the situation. Essentially, they run the conduct proceedings based on their own policy and their rules. They could set the parameters of those hearings in accordance with their perspective on how serious the alleged allegations are. It gives them more flexibility to impose more subjective forms of justice, meaning all the potential consequences that are set for students.

Even if your school does not allow legal representation for a hearing, you should still seek the services of a well-versed student defense attorney. A lawyer could advise you and help you avoid DC student offense penalties.