Colleges in Connecticut are notorious for aggressively prosecuting students who have been accused of a disciplinary violation, particularly if the accusation is for sexual misconduct that violates Title IX. Students in this position often find that their due process rights mean little their college, as it races towards a finding of guilt.
Filing a complaint with the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) can bring a federal agency into the case to oversee the process and protect your rights from your college's vigor. Hiring a Title IX and OCR complaint lawyer can ensure that this complaint is effective.
The Office for Civil Rights and How it Protects Students
One branch of the U.S. Department of Education is the Office for Civil Rights. The OCR has the responsibility of enforcing several federal laws that protect students in higher education. The OCR does this passively, though, so aggrieved students need to petition the agency to look into their case by filing a complaint. This complaint needs to be sent within 180 days of the alleged violation, needs to be persuasive enough to convince the OCR to intervene, and has to be broad enough for the agency to investigate all of the problematic aspects of your situation.
How the OCR Investigates Cases in Connecticut
If the OCR accepts jurisdiction over your case in Connecticut, it will conduct an independent investigation of all of the allegations you made in your complaint. Interviews will be conducted, and important documents will be examined to determine if your school violated your rights while it rushed to convict you on a Title IX allegation or other disciplinary action.
While the OCR investigates, any intimidation or retaliation from your school can serve as the grounds for another OCR complaint and yet another investigation.
After finishing its investigation of your complaint, the OCR will send a letter of its findings to you and to your school. If the OCR determined that your school did violation your rights, then it will recommend mediation as a way to come to a satisfactory resolution. Schools that refuse to talk in mediation can face serious administrative sanctions up to and including a slash in the school's federal funding.
Settlements Through the Facilitated Resolution Process
Most schools want to settle the dispute as soon as they realize that the OCR is going to become involved. The OCR pushes for this outcome by providing the settlement process of Facilitated Resolution Between the Parties. The OCR, however, only provides the process for resolution; it does not endorse any specific outcome that you and your school decide upon. You can, however, file a new OCR complaint if your school violates the terms of your agreement.
Connecticut's Title IX and OCR Complaint Advisor
Joseph D. Lento is a Title IX attorney and OCR complaint advisor who can help students in Connecticut who have been accused of a disciplinary violation and suspect that their rights are being infringed. Contact him online or by phone at 888-535-3686 for the help you need to protect your future from a serious blemish on your academic record.
State Universities:
- Eastern Connecticut State University
- Central Connecticut State University
- Southern Connecticut State University
- Western Connecticut State University
- University of Connecticut
State-Run Colleges:
- Asnuntuck Community College
- Capital Community College
- Charter Oak State College
- Gateway Community College
- Housatonic Community College
- Manchester Community College
- Middlesex Community College
- Naugatuck Valley Community College
- Northwestern Connecticut Community College
- Norwalk Community College
- Quinebaug Valley Community College
- Three Rivers Community College
- Tunxis Community College
Federal-Level Military Academy
- United States Coast Guard Academy – (exempt from Title IX and the Clery Act)
Private Colleges and Universities
- Albertus Magnus College
- Connecticut College
- Fairfield University
- Goodwin College
- Hartford Seminary
- Holy Apostles College and Seminary
- Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts
- Mitchell College
- New England Baptist College
- University of New Haven
- Paier College of Art
- Quinnipiac University
- Rensselaer at Hartford
- Sacred Heart University
- St. Vincent's College
- Trinity College
- University of Bridgeport
- University of Hartford
- University of Saint Joseph
- Wesleyan University
- Yale University
For-Profit Colleges
- Lincoln College of New England (formerly Briarwood College)
- Lincoln Technical Institute
- Post University
Students and parents at times do not realize until after a finding of responsibility and the imposition of adverse sanctions that sexual misconduct allegations at college can result in severe consequences academically and professionally and in the short and long-term. The earlier the necessary steps are taken to address a Title IX case, the better, because these are cases that can be won at the school-level. There are times, however, that the help of the Department of Education Office of Civil Rights (DOE-OCR) is needed and Joseph D. Lento has a decade of experience passionately fighting for the futures of his clients at colleges and universities throughout the nation and has helped many clients seek recourse with the DOE-OCR. 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, who helps students in Connecticut with DOE-OCR Title IX complaints, is admitted as an attorney pro hac vice in state and federal court if needed when representing clients nationwide, and serves as a Title IX advisor to students facing disciplinary cases in Connecticut and throughout the nation. Make certain your or your student's interests are protected - Contact National Title IX attorney Joseph D. Lento today.
