Spartanburg Student Defense Lawyer

When a student is charged with a crime, they often face more than just the criminal penalties associated with their charge. Schools and universities typically maintain a code of conduct that students are expected to follow. When students violate that code of conduct, they are often punished above and beyond any possible criminal sanctions by the state. When a school or university accuses you of misconduct, it is incredibly important that you protect your rights.

A Spartanburg student defense lawyer is prepared to represent you in school disciplinary hearings, in court, or wherever they are needed. Your school career deserves protection. A seasoned defense attorney could help you fight your case.

Title IX Offenses

Title IX offices exist in every college and university as a requirement of federal law. When a student faces sexual discrimination charges at school, the Title IX office will become involved in the situation. Sexual discrimination can mean a variety of different actions, not just mistreatment based on gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation. It can also include sex crimes, such as:

  • Rape
  • Statutory rape
  • Date rape
  • Sexual assault
  • Prostitution
  • Criminal sexual conduct

Many of these actions can not only result in Title IX violations, but may also result in criminal sanctions filed in state court. Ultimately, and in both cases, a student will need the assistance of a skilled student defense attorney to protect their rights.

Allegations of Academic Misconduct

Academic misconduct charges are some of the more common violations of the code of conduct students regularly face. Rarely does this type of action result in a separate state crime, but it can result in severe repercussions for a student’s academic career.

Academic misconduct cover a wide variety of actions, including, but not limited to:

  • Taking an exam for another student or having another student take the exam for them
  • Use of electronic assistance during exams
  • Falsifying data for assignments
  • Plagiarism
  • Use of cheat sheets
  • Communication of answers from an exam
  • Unacceptable collaboration
  • Improper citation

Schools are extremely sensitive to issues of academic misconduct, especially those that center on cheating or plagiarism. In many cases, this sensitivity results in outsized charges for simple mistakes or even accidents. When this occurs, a knowledgeable defense lawyer can often make all the difference.

Burden of Proof in School Misconduct Cases

Unlike criminal cases, which utilize a “beyond a reasonable doubt” standard of proof, most schools utilize much lower standards. This may include a “clear and convincing” or even a “preponderance of the evidence” standard. Lower standards of proof mean that a finding of guilt is more likely without a proper defense.

Student Criminal Misconduct

When a student is accused of a crime, whether or not it occurred on campus, the student could face penalties both in state court and in their school. Any crime may result in these types of penalties, but drug and alcohol offenses are especially common in student defense cases. These include:

  • Disorderly conduct
  • Open container violations
  • Possession of marijuana or other drugs
  • Giving alcohol to underage students
  • Possession of a fake ID
  • Consumption or possession of alcohol while under 21 years of age

Any of these crimes and more could result in suspension, expulsion, or other types of punishment at school.

A Student Defense Attorney in Spartanburg Can Help

If you are a student and face allegations of a crime, a Title IX violation, or academic misconduct do not give up hope. There are defenses available to every student. A defense crafted to your unique situation may protect your rights.

Contact a Spartanburg student defense lawyer to schedule a consultation.