When you're a university student, you may feel like you are continually navigating high-pressure situations. From exams, to research, to application essays for graduate school, there is much at stake. Under these circumstances, there is a looming temptation to take a short cut to an easier path.
Someone may be part of a research project that took countless hours and months – or even years of research. The results of the project don't align with their theory, and they are tempted to falsify the data. Or, someone's grades may not measure up to their dream school's standards, so they doctor their records a bit.
In both scenarios, the offenders may face serious repercussions that derail their educational paths. Since colleges have to manage their reputations and discourage academic dishonesty, they establish stringent standards to avoid falsification. Even if it is your first time, or even if you felt you had a good reason, it could mean your expulsion and the loss of years of hard work.
If you are facing a falsification charge, contact attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento. With years of experience representing students charged with falsifying data or records, you'll have a better chance of success and have a strong legal ally by your side.
What Does Falsification Mean?
In the world of academia, falsification is when a student fabricates data or information. This charge covers a lot of ground, including plagiarism, using made-up data, forgery, or altering the information inside documents. Since students work hard to receive their valuable credentials, college administrations enforce strict penalties for academic misconduct.
Whether it is a genuine mistake or an action you took out of sheer desperation, your academic integrity is on the line. If caught in the act of falsification, your college may investigate your entire educational history. If data falsification was an ongoing issue, you might lose your credits and face severe consequences.
How Do Colleges Know that Students Falsify Data or Records?
Modern technology and health concerns have made virtual learning more common. Unfortunately, the switch to distance learning is also causing a spike in cases of plagiarism, cheating, and data falsification. To prevent and discourage these actions, college administrations now train their teachers to be more adept at identifying plagiarism.
Additionally, numerous software programs are available that can identify false information or doctored data in seconds. Colleges are even hiring third-party companies to monitor students while taking virtual tests. Before notifying you of the charge, your college administration has already conducted a semi-investigation to ensure the charges against you have substance.
Since you are already at a disadvantage, hiring a misconduct advisor for your defense improves your chances of a favorable outcome. A falsification charge requires evidence to prove. With an adept attorney like advisor Joseph D. Lento by your side, you can avoid unfair charges and processes that cause undue stress and an unfavorable outcome.
What Should I Do if I am Facing a Falsification Charge?
Each university will have its own procedures for dealing with suspected academic misconduct. You may stand in front of an ethics committee or other panel that will review your case. Having an experienced advisor, who has dealt with these issues before, can be a real advantage.
If there are flaws in the data or the process, Attorney Lento ensures that it doesn't affect your case outcome and covers every possible angle for a solution. With his years of experience helping students like you, Attorney-advisor Lento makes sure that you are not seen as guilty – or treated like it – before the final verdict.
Can I Defend Myself Against Charges?
In some cases, the charges that the ethics committee brings against you are false, or the information is not entirely accurate. One of the first steps to take is to gather all the evidence you have to help you and your attorney disprove the charges against you. If the allegations are accurate, you still may not have to give a statement or respond to inquiries without legal counsel. It may be your only option, especially if the matter entails losing your college credits.
Defending yourself against charges is a two-fold process, both during the investigation and after the decision. The specific defense strategy that will be best will depend of the case, but when applicable, hiring an attorney during the initial stages of the probe sends a strong message and forces committees to proceed with caution when making claims against you. In many instances, the falsification charge is bogus or the result of weak evidence. Your experience depends on the findings and the defense strategy you adopt.
Accepting any decision that a college makes may not be in your favor, which underscores the need to have a knowledgeable professional by your side. Are you facing a falsification charge and don't know how to counter it effectively? Contact Lento Law Firm for a confidential consultation.
How Can the Lento Law Firm Help?
The Lento Law Firm boasts a track record of success when it comes to the legal defense of students. From misconduct cases to falsification, Attorney Lento and his team understand how college administrations conduct their processes and ensure that you don't become a victim of bias.
Data falsification is a charge that potentially alters the course of your education. With solid legal knowledge and a genuine passion for defense, Lento Law Firm is your ally when there are falsification charges against you.
Don't a record or data falsification charge ruin your chances of academic success. The Lento Law Firm can defend you if called to answer before your honors or ethics committee and ensures that you receive justice and the best outcome for your case. Call the Lento Law Firm today at (888) 535-3686 for a consultation and let us help you build a strong defense against record or data falsification.
