Preparing your child for a university sexual misconduct hearing in South Dakota needs to take place as early as possible in the disciplinary process. As soon as the school notifies your accused student of the allegations against him or her, you need to bear in mind the prospect of a hearing taking place. When the accused student responds to the allegations of the college or university, it needs to be done as effectively as possible because it will be challenged during the hearing process.
Anything that would support the accused student's version of events needs to be presented to the school at the appropriate time. Witness and witness statements, documentary evidence will need to be presented, expert reports may need to be obtained. Prior to the hearing taking place, an investigation report will be prepared and presented to the hearing panel. The hearing panel will review that and will have a good understanding of the case before the hearing even takes place. That's why it's critical that the investigation report be as strong as possible.
For purposes of the hearing, an opening and a closing statement would need to be prepared. Questions for the witnesses would need to be prepared, the complainant, the respondent, the supporting witnesses, including applicable cross-examination questions. There also has to be accountability and oversight for the hearing process in the hearing panel. An experienced attorney advisor will be your son or daughter's best ally if they're both preparing for and defending at a university sexual misconduct hearing.
South Dakota 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:
- Augustana College
- Black Hills State University
- Colorado Technical University Sioux Falls
- Dakota State University
- Dakota Wesleyan University
- Globe University Sioux Falls
- Kilian Community College
- Lake Area Technical Institute
- Mitchell Technical Institute
- Mount Marty College
- National American University Ellsworth AFB Extension
- National American University Rapid City
- National American University Sioux Falls
- Northern State University
- Oglala Lakota College
- Presentation College
- Sinte Gleska University
- Sisseton Wahpeton College
- South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
- South Dakota State University
- Southeast Technical Institute
- University of Sioux Falls
- University of South Dakota
- Western Dakota Technical Institute
It is critical to make certain the college sexual misconduct investigation at your South Dakota 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 Pennsylvania, 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 South Dakota 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.
