How Can Criminal Charges Impact Michigan College Students?
Michigan students who get caught up in partying, pranks, or hazing can find themselves facing criminal charges. Under state law, an arrest in Ann Arbor can lead to both criminal prosecution and school disciplinary action. These cases can carry serious, long-term consequences – especially for minors and out-of-state students attending the University of Michigan, Eastern Michigan University, or other colleges across the state.
What Are Common Criminal Charges Faced by Michigan Students?
Michigan students may face criminal prosecution for various offenses, such as:
- Traffic violations, such as reckless driving or driving without insurance
- OWI
- Underage possession or consumption of alcohol
- Possession of open alcohol containers in public or vehicles
- Assault
- Shoplifting
- Embezzlement
- Criminal mischief (willfully damaging or destroying property)
- Stalking/harassment or cyberstalking/cyberharassment
- Sex crimes, including rape
- Domestic violence
- Possession or distribution of drugs
What are Some Long-Term Consequences of Criminal Matters for Students?
Michigan students who face criminal charges may experience long-term consequences for their personal and professional lives. First, criminal charges can result in a prosecution that leads to a conviction. Depending on the severity of a criminal offense, a conviction can impose various penalties, including probation, fines, restitution obligations, and, in some cases, incarceration.
Convictions for certain crimes can also have other collateral consequences, such as sex offender registration requirements for a sex conviction. A conviction will also leave a student with a criminal record that may make it more challenging to pursue employment opportunities, especially if it appears in employment background checks. Some offenses may also disqualify students from specific professional licenses or jobs, including in healthcare or working with children. Criminal records can also make it challenging to pursue admission to future educational programs or obtain scholarships or grants.
Even if a criminal matter does not result in a conviction, a student may still face disciplinary proceedings at their school, especially if the events underlying the criminal matter occurred on school grounds or involved fellow students. Disciplinary proceedings can result in punishments such as the loss of scholarships, cancellation of class credits, suspension from school, or expulsion.
How Can a Michigan Criminal Defense Attorney Help Students Resolve Arrests and Prosecutions?
A defense lawyer can help a student protect their rights and minimize the implications of criminal charges for their future studies or professional opportunities through dedicated legal representation that includes:
- Thoroughly investigating the circumstances behind the matter to recover all available evidence, rather than simply relying on the police’s or a university’s investigation
- Reviewing the facts and evidence to identify potential defenses and develop a comprehensive case strategy
- Advising the student and their family about their rights and options to help them make informed decisions about how to proceed
- Defending the student’s rights during criminal proceedings, including seeking to exclude evidence unlawfully obtained by the police
- Pursuing the best possible resolution to criminal charges, whether through a negotiated plea deal or by taking the case to trial
- Advocating on the student’s behalf during school disciplinary proceedings to fight against potentially catastrophic penalties
Students and their families should remember that the police and university investigators do not have students’ best interests in mind. Instead, facing criminal prosecution or a disciplinary proceeding means dealing with an adversarial system. Hiring legal counsel can help students defend themselves from accusations and mitigate the potential fallout of allegations of criminal activity.
Contact Our Firm Today
When a student faces criminal allegations, hiring experienced legal counsel can mitigate the effects of a prosecution or disciplinary proceeding.
Contact Geherin Law Group, PLLC, today for a free, confidential consultation with a student defense attorney in Ann Arbor to discuss your or your child’s legal options for protecting their rights and reputation from the potential consequences of criminal charges in Michigan.