When you send your child off to college, the last thing you want is to hear they’ve been charged with a crime. If your college student is facing criminal charges, the first call you make should be to a Grand Rapids attorney.

A criminal record can disqualify your child from receiving federal student aid, ruin their chances of gainful employment after graduation, or even get them expelled from their dream college.

College students can face any number of criminal charges, including:

School Policy Does Not Equal Criminal Law

Before hiring a college crime lawyer, it’s important to know that there is a difference between violating school policy and committing a crime. When a college student violates school policy, the consequences are determined by their college’s disciplinary system. 

When a college student commits a crime, the consequences will be determined by a jury in a court of law. If there is any overlap between violating school policy and committing a crime, the police and university will conduct their own separate investigations. 

Keep in mind that just because your child was cleared by the university, doesn’t mean that they won’t be convicted of criminal charges in a court of law. Likewise, your child may be expelled from their school even if they’re found not guilty of a crime.

Your child’s university may have a lower standard of proof than a court of law, which means less evidence is needed for the university to issue repercussions. For example, college athletes accused of crimes may be suspended from their teams until charges are dropped or they are found not guilty. 

A criminal defense attorney for college students can help ensure the best legal outcome for your child. 

College Students Are Especially Vulnerable

Many college students are away from their parents for the first time, which makes them especially vulnerable when facing charges for college campus crimes. Since young adults are away from their support systems, they may not be able to afford the legal representation they need to build a strong defense. 

If your child is attending college in a different state, this can also complicate their situation. Laws vary from state to state and you may have difficulty trying to support your child when you are halfway across the country. 

Your Student’s Future Career Can Be Affected

If your child is pursuing a degree in criminal justice, education, or health care, they will need the best legal representation to avoid a permanent criminal record. Your child will not be able to pursue careers in these fields if they are convicted of a crime. 

If your college student is charged with DUI, you’ll want to hire an Grand Rapids lawyer as soon as possible to prevent them from losing their driver’s license. Many college students depend on their driver’s license to drive to school, internships, and jobs. Other DUI consequences for college students include losing scholarship funding or even being expelled from their college.

A College Crime Attorney Can Help

A college crime lawyer will have the necessary experience to build a strong case and ensure the best legal outcome for your child. Your child should avoid making statements to friends, police, or disciplinary boards until after they receive counsel from a criminal defense attorney. Crime on college campusesis not taken lightly, which is why your child will need legal representation.

Call Our Office Today!

Attorney Jerry Beurkens at Beurkens Law is dedicated to making sure your child has the best legal outcome when facing criminal charges. If you are interested in setting up your free legal consultation with our Grand Rapids criminal defense attorney, give our law firm in Grand Rapids a call at (616) 459-5344.

This blog post has been updated.