If you have been arrested while you’re in college — even if it wasn’t on campus — you run the risk of being punished twice for the same crime.
Twice? But doesn’t the U.S. Constitution protect people from being tried twice for the same crime? These are valid questions you might be asking, and the answer is yes, it does. But disciplinary proceedings at colleges and universities are not criminal trials, so it’s highly possible that you can face both criminal charges and disciplinary action for the same offense.
Why?
Colleges and universities have adopted codes of conduct to guide acceptable and unacceptable behavior from its students. It’s a liability for schools to ignore arrests of students off campus, as the alleged crime could have an impact on student safety at school.
Here’s an example: The University of Memphis is being sued for reportedly allowing a student accused of sexually assaulting another student to remain on campus, even though he had been formally charged with the assault. A judge sided with the student who sued the school, saying that the school’s response could constitute negligence. The judge is allowing the case to go forward.
What’s the difference between a criminal trial and a college or university disciplinary hearing?
There are a few key differences between criminal proceedings and disciplinary actions at a university, including:
- Proof of guilt: In a criminal proceeding, a prosecutor has to prove guilt “beyond a reasonable doubt.” That’s a much higher standard of proof than most college campuses, where administrators only have to be “mostly sure” that a student violated the code of conduct.
- School disciplinary proceedings are typically completely independent of legal proceedings, so just because you’re found not guilty on criminal charges doesn’t mean you’ll automatically be cleared in your college discipline case.
How will the school find out about your arrest?
If you think that because you weren’t arrested by university police, then the college surely won’t find out about the arrest, you’re wrong.
Many colleges and universities have agreements in place with local law enforcement agencies for police to report arrests of college students to their respective schools. Even if there’s no formal agreement in place, your school has other ways of finding out if you’ve been arrested.
What are my rights if I’m arrested off-campus and facing disciplinary action on campus?
Not all schools allow a lawyer to be present with the student during his or her disciplinary hearing, but you have every right to hire a lawyer to help you prepare your case. You should look for an attorney who specializes in college student defense. Shanlon Wu, a former federal prosecutor, is uniquely suited to help with your case. Contact his office for a consultation.