How a Criminal Record can Affect Students

How a Criminal Record Can Affect Students

Get legal representation if you have been accused of a crime on campus. Experienced student law attorneys at Lavalle, Brown & Ronan P.A. can help.

News sources recently reported the results of an investigation involving college athletes that indicated that the University of Florida had the highest number of athletes that had been suspected of criminal activity. Police reports demonstrated that over the course of five years, 80 athletes were allegedly involved in 119 criminal incidents. Furthermore, 25 athletes were suspected to be involved in multiple incidents. However, due to their star athlete statuses, more than half of the cases were either dismissed or simply not pursued by prosecutors.

Unfortunately, many other students do not have fame on their side if they have a run-in with law enforcement officers. While many students may believe that minor violations of Florida law are just part of being in college, they often fail to realize the profound effect a criminal conviction can have on their future educational and professional opportunities.

An attorney can present any relevant legal defenses, can identify violations of your constitutional rights, and can present evidence to negotiate with prosecutors to have them drop your case or negotiate a plea agreement that will have less of an effect on your life.

If you have been accused of a crime, it’s critically important that you seek representation from the team at Lavalle, Brown & Ronan, P.A.

Even Minor Convictions Can Affect Your Future

Not every crime committed by college students is one of a serious nature or that of moral turpitude.

Many incidents involving the athletes were common criminal allegations against students, including:

• Underage drinking.
• Drug possession.
• Assault.
• Wrongful use of fireworks.
• Harassment.

While many of these may be charged as misdemeanors, you should understand that even a misdemeanor conviction can have serious consequences.

In addition to the fines, court costs, probation, and possible jail time associated with criminal convictions, having a criminal record can cause you to be expelled from your college program. It may also limit your ability to be accepted into graduate programs and can prevent you from receiving a number of professional licenses. Additionally, convictions of certain offenses such as drug possession can prohibit you from receiving any federal financial aid including loans and grants.

How Common is Student Crime in Florida?

According to the Indicators of School Crime and Safety 2018 report published by the National Center for Education Statistics, there were 827,000 total victimizations (such as theft and non-violent incidents) in student groups up to the age of 18. College statistics are not as easy to come by, due to the different reporting methods used by the schools themselves, and the law enforcement groups that report on them.

The most recent information provided by the National Center for Education Statistics reveals that 28,400 college crime incidents were reported at postsecondary institutions in 2016. This was an increase over the 2015 academic year.

• 12,000 of these reported crimes were burglaries, equivalent to 42% of all incidents.
• 8,900 were sex offenses.
• 3,500 were motor vehicle thefts.
• 2,200 were aggravated assaults.
• 1,100 were robberies.

Some reported crimes don’t result in convictions, although the National Center for Education Statistics does not provide meaningful data in this area.

It’s important to note that:

• Reported crimes may turn out to be false or misreported.
• Students may be accused of crime (particularly those committed against people they know) due to personal disagreement or other circumstances.
• Crimes involving alcohol may be misreported, or the events may be confused. This can result in wrongful convictions or penalties.

If you have been accused of a crime on campus or even outside of school, you can talk to the team at Lavalle, Brown & Ronan. Our experienced attorneys and clerical staff will work to explore all possible options including building a defense, requesting a dismissal, or reaching a settlement for incidents that can be resolved outside of the court system.

Your college years are critical and will set the stage for your future. Don’t take college crime lightly. Our criminal defense lawyers are your best option to ensure that you get the best opportunities later in life, without the burden of a conviction or other legal troubles.

A Skilled Defense Lawyer Can Help You

In many of the cases involving star athletes, their cases were dismissed because of their access to qualified legal representation. There are many ways a skilled criminal defense attorney can help you avoid conviction and limit the consequences you may face for the criminal allegations. An attorney can present any relevant legal defenses, can identify violations of your constitutional rights, and can present evidence to negotiate with prosecutors to have them drop your case or negotiate a plea agreement that will have less of an effect on your life.

If you have already been convicted of a crime, a criminal defense lawyer can also examine whether or not you may qualify to have your record sealed or expunged, especially if you were a juvenile when the incident occurred. This can limit a school’s access to information regarding your arrest, charges, and the outcome of your case.

Discuss Your Situation with An Experienced Boca Raton Criminal Defense Attorney Today

Having an experienced defense lawyer handling your case is imperative whether you are a student or not. Athletes and other famous individuals are not the only ones who can benefit from high-quality legal representation. Anyone accused of a crime should contact an attorney as soon as possible.

At the law office of Lavalle, Brown & Ronan, our Boca Raton criminal defense attorneys are waiting to help you defend against your charges.Call today at 855-BOCALAW (262-2529) for your initial consultation and take steps to protect your reputation and your future.

Resources and References

• Moral Turpitude
• School Crime Report
• College Crime

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