At any stage in life, a criminal conviction can carry serious implications. For students, especially those in college, the implications can be magnified. Here are some important things to consider if you are in college and just got arrested.
One primary concern is continued enrollment at your college or university. Most schools have good behavior provisions tied to acceptance at that particular institution and violation of these provisions with a criminal conviction could potentially lead to expulsion. A lawyer can help you navigate issues with your Honor Court and Honor Code should any exist.
Depending on the type of charge you are facing, your school may have its own internal process that the federal government mandates for dealing with the potential criminal conduct. These hearings can be critical to whether or not you might be expelled from school. While they are not legal proceedings, they can have binding legal effects.
Additionally, if a student has scholarships, they risk losing some or all scholarship assistance with certain criminal convictions. Sometimes even a mere arrest can bring your scholarship into question. This is especially critical if you are a college athlete on any level.
Finally, for those entering the job market or desiring to continue their education, employment and admission place great weight on an applicant’s background. A criminal conviction may hurt your chances of employment or acceptance when compared to another candidate with no criminal history.
If you are charged with a crime as a student, there are often programs available that may allow you to complete certain requirements in exchange for having the charge dismissed. In South Carolina, Pre-Trial Intervention is one such program that is offered in many jurisdictions. It is important to seek legal advice early in the process to ensure that you are aware of your options and advised of the potential implications of a criminal arrest and/or conviction.
If you are in need of a criminal lawyer, contact our criminal defense team and let us help you.
Blog post written by Attorney Jennifer E. Wells
Contact Jennifer today at (864) 660-0465 or email at jwells@spartanlaw.com
The post What Happens if I am in College and Just Got Arrested? appeared first on KD Trial Lawyers.