College and university students who become involved in school disciplinary proceedings will find themselves either directly charged by their school as the "accused," or for example. summoned as a witness in a disciplinary proceeding. Once a disciplinary investigation or disciplinary proceedings have begun, the accused student's or witness' actions in response to the investigation or proceedings can subject them to additional charges, including Abuse of the Student Conduct Process; generally defined as:
- Failure to obey the notice from a hearing authority or college or university official to appear for a meeting as part of the student conduct process; failure to appear as a witness at an official student conduct hearing.
- Falsification, distortion, or misrepresentation of information before an appropriate hearing authority, at a preliminary briefing, or other student conduct process meeting/hearing.
- Disruption or interference with the orderly conduct of a hearing, preliminary briefing, or other student conduct meeting or hearing.
- Falsifying a student conduct incident report.
- Attempting to discourage an individual's participation in, or use of, the student conduct system.
- Attempting to influence the impartiality of a member of a hearing board prior to, and/or during the course of the student conduct process.
- Harassment and/or intimidation of any party, witness or hearing board member involved in a student conduct case with the intent of influencing outcomes or for the purposes of retaliation prior to, during and/or after a student conduct proceeding.
- Failure to comply with the sanction(s) imposed as a result of a Student Code of Conduct violation.
- Falsifying data, plagiarism, receiving unauthorized assistance, and/or the misrepresentation of service in attempt to fulfill the requirements of an assigned student conduct sanction; completing part or all of an assigned sanction for another student.
If you or your student is charged with an Abuse of the Student Conduct Process disciplinary violation, contact student defense attorney Joseph D. Lento today.