Over the last several years, the public has become increasingly alarmed by a series of hazing incidents that have gained national attention. The public puts pressure on state legislatures. State legislatures pass laws and put pressure on colleges and universities. Colleges and universities such as Miami Dade College ramp up investigations and institute harsh penalties for anyone accused of an offense.
Here's the thing: when everyone's overreacting to news stories, mistakes get made. Colleges wind up accusing perfectly innocent students. Students who might have made mistakes wind up dealing with sanctions far in excess of what their offenses actually deserve.
If you've been caught up in a hazing investigation for some reason, you can't afford to try and handle the situation yourself. You need someone to protect your rights, someone to stand up to your school and demand you're treated fairly. The Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team has been working on this for a long time. We've represented hundreds of students from all types of misconduct charges, including hazing, and we know how Miami Dade College's judicial system operates. You can count on us to use every resource at our disposal to get you the best possible resolution to your case.
It's important you contact us quickly, though. You can be sure Miami Dade College is already building its case against you. You should be building your defense. Call 888-535-3686 today to find out how we can help, or take a few minutes right now and fill out one of our online forms.
Defining Hazing at Miami Dade College
It's actually not easy to avoid hazing charges at Miami Dade College. If you're a member of any campus organization—and most students are—you're vulnerable to accusations. You never know when a disgruntled pledge or a rival organization may decide to allege you and your organization have broken the rules. The thing is, the rules are so broadly written that almost any sort of initiation activity can get you into trouble. For instance,
- Incidents that involve physical injury are the ones that most often grab headlines. However, you can also be charged for doing “mental” harm during initiation activities. Simple harassment is enough. In fact, in recent years, organizations and their members have been charged for little more than keeping pledges up too late at night.
- You don't actually have to harm anyone—mentally or physically—to earn a hazing charge. If you “endanger” another student, if you create circumstances in which harm might occur, that's enough to warrant an investigation.
- “Any student organization" can face hazing charges—fraternities, sororities, music clubs, honor societies, religious groups, pre-professional groups.
- There is no such thing as a “willing” hazing participant. You cannot shield yourself from a charge by having pledges sign waivers. When membership in the organization is at stake, all participation in such activities is defined as “coerced.”
Again, under public pressure, state legislatures, including Florida's, have passed legislation prohibiting the practice of hazing. As a Miami Dade College student, you can face charges from the school whether or not you are facing charges from the state. In fact, even if the state should find you innocent of all accusations, that will not prevent Miami Dade College from pursuing an investigation against you. You can still face probation, suspension, and even outright dismissal.
That's one of the reasons you need the Lento Law Firm attorney on your side. There's simply too much at stake to try and handle a hazing charge on your own.
Defending Yourself From Hazing Allegations
You do have rights as a Miami Dade College student. Hazing cases can be complex, sometimes involving dozens of students, and judicial procedures can be difficult to navigate. However, you are entitled to due process, to the presumption of innocence (“not responsible”), and to the opportunity to defend yourself at a full, formal hearing.
- The Student Dean's Office has jurisdiction over all disciplinary misconduct cases, including hazing. Anyone may accuse you of hazing, but only the Dean's Office may issue official charges against you.
- Any time you're charged, you're entitled to notice of those charges. The Dean's Office must explain the allegations to you, and it must apprise you of your due process rights.
- The college must conduct some type of investigation in order to determine the facts of the case. During the investigation, you should be allowed to give your side of the story, to submit evidence, and to suggest witnesses for investigators to interview.
- Investigators turn their findings over to the Student Dean's Office, which then sets a time and date for a hearing. Note that you have a right to review investigative findings, including any and all evidence investigators uncover.
- Hearings generally take place before the college's Discipline Committee. Both sides present their arguments, backing those arguments with evidence, including witness testimony. Both sides also have the right to raise questions about evidence, including witness testimony.
- The Discipline Committee then decides the case using the legal standard "preponderance of the evidence." According to this standard, you are guilty if a majority of Committee members are more than fifty percent convinced of your guilt.
- If you're found not responsible, your case is over. If you're found responsible, you can appeal. You must have grounds for appeal, though, such as a procedural error, new evidence to present, or a disproportionate sanction.
Miami Dade College is relatively unique among US colleges and universities in that it allows students direct representation by attorneys. Your attorney doesn't just accompany you to meetings and hearings. They can speak for you, offer your arguments, cross-examine witnesses, and raise procedural objections on your behalf. You want to make sure, though, that you're making the most of this opportunity. Not just any attorney will do. You need an attorney who works in the area of student defense, who knows how campus procedures work, and who has experience representing student clients. You need someone from the Lento Law Firm.
Fighting for Your Future
Hazing is a serious offense, and a Responsible finding can mean serious sanctions. Just because you've been charged, though, doesn't mean you'll necessarily be found Responsible. The Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team can make sure you're fully prepared to defend yourself. They can insist Miami Dade College afford you every due process right to which you are entitled. In the end, they offer you your very best chance of success.
Let the Lento Law Firm help you fight for your academic future. To find out more, contact us today at 888-535-3686. Or, fill out our online questionnaire.
