You're bright and dedicated, or you wouldn't have gotten into USC in the first place. Bright and dedicated students don't have to worry about disciplinary misconduct charges. They're far too busy writing papers or studying for the next big exam.
You might be surprised. Misconduct allegations can happen to anyone, even smart, hardworking students with high GPAs. The thing is, universities sometimes get it wrong and wind up accusing perfectly innocent students. Or you could be the victim of an honest misunderstanding. And let's face it: You might even make a mistake. It happens to the best of us.
The Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team wants to make sure a false allegation or a mistake doesn't cost you your shot at a USC degree. How do we do that? We're focused on student rights. We know USC's rules and regulations, including how the university's judicial systems operate. And we've represented hundreds of students, defending them from all types of charges. We are the premier firm in the country when it comes to student defense. The only question is, what can we do for you?
Call 888-535-3686 today to find out, or take a few minutes right now and fill out one of our online forms.
Standards of Conduct at the University of Southern California
Staying out of trouble at USC starts with knowing the rules. You'll find those listed in the Student Conduct Code. It's a long list, too long to include every possible offense here. That's one reason it can be so difficult to avoid misconduct charges. So, let's focus on the most serious violations, the ones that can lead to the most serious sanctions.
- Firearms Possession: There have been far too many incidents of violence on college campuses in the past two decades. It is no surprise, then, that USC maintains a zero-tolerance policy barring any type of firearms on campus. In fact, even "replica" firearms can lead to charges.
- Drug Possession: You can be sure that any violation of state or federal law is also a violation of USC policy. In fact, the Code includes a rule to that effect. In addition, though, the university also goes to the trouble of singling out drug possession as a serious offense. Keep in mind that this applies to marijuana possession, a federal crime.
- Hazing: California recently passed comprehensive legislation barring all hazing activities. USC has had an anti-hazing policy on the books for far longer.
- Violence and the Threat of Violence: Note that you can be charged not just for doing physical violence to other students but for "endangering" other students. You can also be charged for endangering your own health and safety.
Of course, USC has many other restrictions, most of which you'd expect at a college or university, such as prohibitions on trespassing, theft, disorderly conduct, and misrepresentation. Most of these bring lesser sanctions, though.
What kind of sanctions are we talking about? Minor offenses might warrant anything from warnings to probation to loss of privileges. Major sanctions can be subject to suspension, dismissal, and even revocation of degree. It's important you keep in mind, though, that even a warning can have long-term repercussions on your professional career if it should find its way into your permanent record. Most employers take a very dim view of disciplinary misconduct. The bottom line is that you must take every allegation and every proposed sanction seriously.
Mounting a Defense to Misconduct Accusations
No matter what charges you might be facing, you always have the right to defend yourself. In fact, USC provides you with some important due process rights to help you do that. You're entitled to a presumption of “Not Responsible” (innocent), for example, to review all evidence in the case and to advanced notification of all meetings and proceedings.
Here's how the campus judicial process typically unfolds.
- Cases begin when someone—anyone from the campus community—lodges a complaint with the Office of Judicial Affairs and Community Standards.
- If the university decides to proceed with the case, you are issued a Notice of the Charges. This notice should describe the allegations against you and explain your due process rights.
- Next, USC conducts an investigation. Normally, investigators begin by talking with the Respondent (the accused, you) and the Complainant (your accuser or alleged victim) if there is one. In addition, they interview potential witnesses and collect physical evidence.
- One of your most important rights is the right to an advisor. The Lento Law Firm attorney can be with you to help you answer questions and accompany you to any investigative meetings.
- The first phase of a case is the investigation. Investigators usually begin by meeting separately with the Respondent (you) and the Complainant, assuming there is one. In addition, they interview witnesses and collect physical evidence.
- At the conclusion of the investigation, investigators submit a written report of their findings. You should have the opportunity to review this document. The university then sets a time and date for a hearing and appoints a Hearing Officer to preside.
- The hearing affords both sides the opportunity to make their cases. You may present evidence and call witnesses to testify. You also have the right to raise questions for any witnesses testifying against you.
- Hearing Officers decide cases based on a legal standard known as “preponderance of the evidence.” This standard requires them to find you Responsible if they believe it is “more likely than not” that you committed an offense.
- You can appeal the hearing outcome, but not simply because you disagree with that outcome. Appeals have to do with whether or not you were treated fairly during the process. Thus, grounds for appeal are strictly limited to issues like whether or not a procedural error occurred, the discovery of new evidence since the hearing, and a sanction that is disproportionate to the nature of the offense.
USC doesn't allow attorneys to “represent” students during investigations and hearings. During these proceedings, the Lento Law Firm attorney is limited to offering you advice. However, your attorney has a far more important job as well. They are the architect of your entire defense. They'll help you uncover evidence, develop your lines of argument, come up with questions for witnesses, draft documents, and prepare your presentation. In addition, they'll monitor everything that happens and make sure you're treated fairly every step of the way.
Fighting for Your Future
Handling your own disciplinary misconduct case puts your entire future at risk. Make sure you have a professional on your side, someone who not only knows how to construct a strong defense but who has experience helping student clients defend themselves from university charges. The Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team will make sure you're fully prepared to defend yourself. They'll protect your rights. They'll help you to get the very best possible resolution to your case.
Sometimes, you have to fight for your educational future. We can help. To find out more, contact the Lento Law Firm today at 888-535-3686. Or, fill out our online questionnaire.
