Are You Facing Sexual Misconduct Allegations In Indiana?
If you've been accused of Sexual Misconduct at a university or college in Indiana, contact an experienced attorney-advisor to help you understand your rights and recent changes to Sexual Misconduct policies. The United States Department of Education's New Title IX Regulations have generated sweeping modifications and layers of complexity to how schools respond to sexual misconduct allegations. Your academic career and personal rights may be at risk, and a negative outcome in your case could inflict lasting damage to your reputation. Unfortunately, some students and parents do not take the necessary precautions as soon as possible when facing college sexual misconduct allegations. Finding the right Indiana Title IX Advisor can make or break your defense. The Lento Law Firm has come to the aid of countless defendants at colleges and universities across the country and secured a positive outcome in disciplinary rulings or an outright dismissal of all charges. Call (888) 535-3686 for a case consultation today.
How Do New Title IX Regulations Affect My Sexual Misconduct Case?
Under the new federal regulations, any college student accused of sexual misconduct will receive a fairer trial under the New Title IX. Recognizing that colleges often fail to provide due process, Federal courts reviewing campus adjudications have stepped in to issue more than 100 decisions favorable to the accused. The New Title IX Regulations (also known as the “Final Rule”) will provide due process protections to students facing accusations of sexual misconduct. This is good news if your case falls under the jurisdiction of Title IX, but the scope of Title IX is narrower, so fewer Sexual Misconduct cases are under federal rule. A significant number of Sexual Misconduct cases no longer fall under Title IX regulations, such as incidents occurringoccurring off-campus at locations and events over which the school does not have control. Title IX sets a higher bar for incidents to be investigated as sexual misconduct. Still, the Department of Education does not prevent schools from investigating and punishing conduct, not technically considered sexual harassment under the new definition. Most colleges have held fast to their Code of Conduct policies or even strengthened them to make up for the new limited scope of Title IX.
The University of Indiana Maintains Strong Sexual Misconduct Policies
Emily Springston, who serves as IU's Title IX coordinator, stated that “IU has other policies in place with broader definitions of misconduct than what is set by the new Title IX changes…which extends to students even while off campus.” Springston emphasized that “she did not want students to think sexual misconduct not defined under the new Title IX is okay.”
An Attorney-Advisor Is Needed Now More Than Ever To Protect Your Rights
Colleges have been tasked with revamping their Sexual Misconduct policies to incorporate the new federal regulations, which creates an administrative problem. They must decide which cases fall under Title IX, as well as what procedures exist for the cases that don’t meet that threshold. When addressing Sexual Misconduct allegations, it is crucial to research your college's Code of Conduct and Student Disciplinary Policy, as well as New Title IX regulations, for a complete picture of which policies come into play and how your case will be adjudicated. Despite new protections issued by recent federal regulations, schools can still strip the rights of the accuser during their internal processes. Additionally, schools had only three months to change their Sexual Misconduct policies by the Final Rule effective date of August 14, 2020, and administrators felt the issue was too important to be rushed, especially during the pandemic. The American Council on Education's president, Ted Mitchell, said in a statement that the federal government's demand for compliance to the New Title IX could not have come at a worse time for colleges and universities already tasked with coping with the COVID pandemic. Choosing this moment to impose the most complex and challenging regulations the agency has ever issued reflects appallingly poor judgment.” Many colleges couldn't meet the federal deadline, so published interim policies instead of comprehensive Title IX and Code of Conduct policies, adding a layer of instability to the already complex dual policy system. Lento Law Firm will track all changes to Sexual Misconduct policies and ensure that your university is following the letter of the law, and your due-process rights are protected.
Experienced Indiana College Sexual Misconduct Advisor
For many years, attorney Joseph D. Lento has fought for students' rights while gaining a reputation as one of the country's preeminent experts in Title IX and college sexual misconduct cases and student discipline defense. Give the Lento Law Firm a call at (888) 535-3686 for a case consultation today. They will answer your questions and help you defend your rights.
Indiana colleges and universities where Joseph D. Lento can help as your or your student's college sexual misconduct advisor during investigations, hearings, and appeals include, but are not limited to, the following schools:
- Ancilla College
- Anderson University
- Ball State University
- Bethel College Mishawaka
- Brown Mackie College Fort Wayne
- Brown Mackie College Indianapolis
- Brown Mackie College Merrillville
- Brown Mackie College Michigan City
- Brown Mackie College South Bend
- Butler University
- Calumet College of Saint Joseph
- College of Court Reporting Inc.
- Crossroads Bible College
- DePauw University
- DeVry University Indiana
- Earlham College
- Fortis College Indianapolis
- Franklin College
- Goshen College
- Grace College and Theological Seminary
- Hanover College
- Harrison College Anderson
- Harrison College Columbus
- Harrison College Elkhart
- Harrison College Evansville
- Harrison College Fort Wayne
- Harrison College Indianapolis East
- Harrison College Lafayette
- Harrison College Muncie
- Harrison College Northwest
- Harrison College Terre Haute
- Holy Cross College
- Huntington University
- Indiana Institute of Technology
- Indiana State University
- Indiana University Bloomington
- Indiana University East
- Indiana University Kokomo
- Indiana University Northwest
- Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne
- Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis
- Indiana University South Bend
- Indiana University Southeast
- Indiana Wesleyan University
- International Business College
- International Business College Indianapolis
- ITT Technical Institute Fort Wayne
- ITT Technical Institute Indianapolis
- ITT Technical Institute Merrillville
- ITT Technical Institute Newburgh
- ITT Technical Institute South Bend
- Ivy Tech Community College Bloomington
- Ivy Tech Community College Central Indiana
- Ivy Tech Community College Columbus
- Ivy Tech Community College East Central
- Ivy Tech Community College Kokomo
- Ivy Tech Community College Lafayette
- Ivy Tech Community College Northcentral
- Ivy Tech Community College Northeast
- Ivy Tech Community College Northwest
- Ivy Tech Community College Richmond
- Ivy Tech Community College South Central
- Ivy Tech Community College Southeast
- Ivy Tech Community College Southwest
- Ivy Tech Community College Wabash Valley
- Manchester College
- Marian University
- Martin University
- MedTech College
- MedTech College Ft Wayne Campus
- MedTech College Greenwood Campus
- Mid America College of Funeral Service
- Oakland City University
- Purdue University Calumet Campus
- Purdue University Main Campus
- Purdue University North Central Campus
- Rose Hulman Institute of Technology
- Saint Josephs College
- Saint Mary's College
- Saint Mary of the Woods College
- Taylor University
- The Art Institute of Indianapolis
- Trine University
- Trine University Regional/Non Traditional Campuses
- University of Evansville
- University of Indianapolis
- University of Notre Dame
- University of Phoenix Indianapolis Campus
- University of Phoenix Northwest Indiana Campus
- University of Saint Francis Fort Wayne
- University of Southern Indiana
- Valparaiso University
- Vincennes University
- Wabash College
It is critical to make certain the college sexual misconduct investigation at your Indiana school is handled properly and that the accused student's interests are protected from as early as possible during the sexual misconduct investigative process. One major reason is because even at colleges and universities where a finding of responsibility for sexual misconduct charges is made at a hearing, the investigation will set the stage for what the hearing panel is provided prior to a hearing (and what the hearing panel will in large part rely on at a hearing), and at schools where the finding of responsibility is made solely through the investigative process, what takes place during the investigation itself will determine whether the accused is found responsible or not responsible for college sexual misconduct charges.
Unfortunately, some students, families, and college employees make the mistake of not taking the necessary precautions as soon as possible when accused of sexual misconduct at college. Some people will mistakenly believe that if they "just explain what happened," their college or university will be fair and impartial and will arrive at the truth. In a perfect world this may be the case, but in a perfect world, sexual misconduct cases would not exist.
Fighting passionately for the future of his clients at universities and colleges throughout the nation for many years, Joseph D. Lento knows how important it is to mount the strongest defense because he understands that an accused's academic and professional future is on the line. He does not settle for the easiest outcome, and instead prioritizes his clients' needs and well-being. Joseph Lento is a licensed attorney in New Jersey and New York, is admitted as an attorney pro hac vice in state and federal court if needed when representing clients nationwide, and serves as a college sexual misconduct advisor to students and others in academia facing sexual misconduct investigations and Title IX disciplinary cases in Indiana and throughout the nation. Make certain your or your student's interests are protected - Contact National College Sexual Misconduct Attorney Joseph D. Lento today at 888-535-3686 or by completing our online form.
