If your son or daughter have been accused of committing a crime at their university, you may need the help of a skilled, experienced, and knowledgeable lawyer. Facing a disciplinary hearing on your own is not only tricky, but it may not work in your favor. These types of proceedings require a deep understanding of the laws that protect you.
Do not let an accusation take over your entire life. The New Jersey disciplinary hearing lawyers at The Law Offices of John. J. Zarych can help you defend yourself against your accusers. To learn more about your case in a free, confidential consultation, call our law offices today at (609) 641-2266.
What is a University Disciplinary Hearing?
A disciplinary hearing is a procedure where the educational institution performs a hearing to address an issue pertaining to disciplinary action against a student. Generally, these hearings take place after the victim of the alleged crime or misconduct has brought a complaint to the attention of college authorities. The primary purpose behind these hearings is to hear what the parties have to say about the issue at hand and get to the truth of the matter.
Every college has its own set of rules to handle misconduct cases on their campus. At Rowan University, a disciplinary hearing has a very straightforward set of rules. For instance, the person who promotes the action has to inform the University’s Dean for Academic Affairs within 30 days of the occurrence of the misconduct or crime. The dean (or their representative) may opt to solve the issue at hand privately, unless the problem involves sexual crimes.
Generally, this type of crime is solved in a disciplinary hearing. For instance, if you are accused of a sexual offense, you must be notified within 15 days of the Dean’s receipt of the complaint against you. A Hearing Board will be in charge of overseeing the process against you. They may conduct as many hearings as necessary to solve your situation. They may also require the presentation of documents and the testimony of any party involved in the issue. During this time, you may have the right to consult with a lawyer.
Our disciplinary hearing defense lawyers understand how the process works and can help you determine the best course of action regarding your case. We can help you gather the necessary evidence to support your case and show through a preponderance of the evidence that you are not guilty of the offenses for which you have been accused.
How Can an Attorney Help Me in a Disciplinary Hearing?
Being involved in a disciplinary hearing can be a daunting experience for anyone who has not been a part of such proceedings before. This is especially true for the student who has been charged with the alleged misconduct or crime. A skilled disciplinary hearing attorney can help you by preparing you for what you may be up against. Keep in mind you have Constitutional rights that must be upheld and that a biased board may try to take away from you if you don’t have legal representation by your side at critical moments.
During a disciplinary hearing, you have the burden of proving your innocence. When you are accused of committing a crime at college, you may be guilty in the eyes of many. What many people fail to realize is there is always two sides of a story, and you have the right to tell yours and have a real fighting chance at proving your innocence.
Additionally, during a disciplinary hearing, you may need to file evidence required by the board, which takes time to gather. This process requires knowledge, skill, and experience. It is always in your best interest to retain the legal services of an attorney who understands and is familiar with disciplinary hearings in New Jersey.
Furthermore, a knowledgeable lawyer can help you during an appeals process. You may appeal a decision made by the board if there is new evidence that substantially affects the board’s determination against you (exculpatory evidence), if there is a procedural error which adversely affected your rights during the proceeding, and for any other instances where the actions were taken against you were too severe for the alleged misconduct.
Disciplinary Hearing Lawyer Helping Students Accused of Misconduct or a Crime
College life should be an enriching, satisfying experience that sets you up for a bright future. However, a criminal charge within your campus can set off a chain reaction capable of disrupting your life and jeopardizing your future. At the Law Offices of John J. Zarych, we understand the importance of having an experienced, skilled legal representation by your side during a disciplinary hearing. Keep in mind that your future is at stake, and if you are ever accused of committing a crime, you need immediate, competent legal representation. To learn more about your case in a free, confidential consultation, call our law offices today at (609) 641-2266.