A person accused of a Title IX violation is at risk of serious sanctions. These sanctions can derail a successful academic career and can even follow you long after you leave school. Title IX hearings follow certain procedures, though the specifics can vary from school to school. In every case, you need an experienced Title IX Hearing attorney familiar with New Jersey colleges to protect your rights.
If you or your student is accused of a Title IX violation in New Jersey, experienced Title IX hearing attorney Joseph D. Lento is ready to fight for you. You do not have to face this difficult time alone.
Title IX Hearing Attorney in New Jersey
Attorney Joseph D. Lento has successfully handled hundreds of Title IX cases involving serious allegations of sexual misconduct, including rape and sexual assault, at major colleges and universities nationwide. He is a driven and dedicated advocate for students facing Title IX charges.
Your rights deserve to be protected by an attorney highly experienced in fighting Title IX allegations. If you're facing a Title IX charge or need to appeal a Title IX ruling, call our office at 888.535.3686 to speak to an experienced Title IX lawyer about your case today.
Understanding Title IX
Title IX is a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex. It applies to elementary and secondary schools, high schools, colleges, and universities, and to federally-funded educational programs run by other institutions or businesses. Title IX applies to any educational “program or activity” that receives federal funding, including sports.
Title IX's definition of gender discrimination includes sexual violence and sexual harassment such as:
- sexual coercion,
- sexual battery,
- sexual assault, and
- rape.
Schools that fail to follow Title IX rules risk losing their government funding. Due to this, many colleges and universities have created a new position called a Title IX compliance officer. This person is someone who is dedicated to handling Title IX investigations, hearings, and cases. Universities take these cases very seriously, and in many cases are overzealous in handling them for fear of losing their funding.
Title IX Hearings in New Jersey
Every school and university in New Jersey will have different processes that govern Title IX complaints. While federal law sets forth certain guidelines that must be followed, the specific process can vary from school to school. It is incredibly important to work with an attorney familiar with New Jersey universities and their different processes, so that your case is treated correctly.
In Title IX cases, the accuser is known as the complainant and the student accused of misconduct is known as the respondent. Both are guaranteed certain rights in the hearings, and the right to impartiality by those overseeing the hearing. Evidence considered at these hearings is limited to the facts pertaining to this particular incident. This means that evidence of:
- prior violations,
- prior sexual or dating history, or
- character witnesses
should not play a role in determining the outcome of your case.
Title IX Process Timeline
The Title IX process will change based on your school's model of enforcement, but here is a general timeline of what you might expect:
- Day 1 – Qualifying Incident reported to the school.
- Week 1 – Preliminary information gathered, incident report completed, law enforcement called if appropriate. Investigating officers assigned by the Title IX coordinator, who notifies both complainant and respondent about the investigation.
- You should get in touch with a Title IX advisor as soon as you find out you're the subject of an investigation.
- Weeks 2-5 – Title IX investigation carried out.
- Week 6 – Title IX investigation completed, the final report presented to the Title IX coordinator. Both parties informed of findings.
- Week 7 – Title IX coordinator reviews the investigation results and decides the next course of action. Both parties informed of the decision and next steps.
- Weeks 7-8 – Judicial sanctioning board makes a decision and reports to both parties. The appeals process begins if requested.
- Day 60 – Long-term sanctions applied if the respondent is found responsible.
As always, every school is a little different, so this is not an exact schedule of how your individual case will proceed. This timeline is provided to give you a general idea of what you might expect from your case. Consultation with your attorney will help you understand how your case will proceed at your particular school.
Possible Consequences: Your New Jersey Title IX Hearing
The possible consequences of a negative finding against you in a Title IX hearing can range from mild to very severe. You should never underestimate the possibilities, and never sleep on your rights. It is crucial that you engage an experienced attorney at the earliest possible stage, not after a finding has already been made against you.
Title IX sexual misconduct allegations could have serious consequences for your academic and professional careers. If you've been accused of sexual misconduct under Title IX:
- Because this is such a serious charge, your personal reputation could take a hit.
- You could be sanctioned, suspended, or expelled from your high school, college, or university.
- The allegations could lead to further criminal or civil charges off-campus that could result in fines, jail time, or even registering as a sex offender.
- Title IX allegations and rulings can become a part of your permanent disciplinary record. This could hurt your chances with graduate schools, jobs, and professional licensing boards who look into your records.
Contact a New Jersey Title IX Hearing Attorney
No student wants to be contacted by their college or university to be informed that they are the subject of a Title IX disciplinary investigation, but when students and parents take the proper steps as early as possible, and approach the matter with an effective strategy, students can position themselves to best fight Title IX charges and to maximize the likelihood of success.
If you or your student needs to appeal a Title IX Sexual Misconduct offense in New Jersey, contact Title IX attorney Joseph D. Lento today at 888-535-3686.
