College roommates bring their own personality, character, and habits. College roommates can become lifelong friends. They can also become significant distractions. And in the worst case, a college roommate's bad habits or even criminal misconduct can expose you to mistaken school disciplinary charges. Let's say, for instance, that your roommate was vaping or doing drugs in your shared dormitory room, but school officials are mistakenly blaming you for that clear school misconduct. No one wants to get kicked out of school because of something their roommate did. How do you respond reasonably, fairly, and in a way that protects your own enormous educational and reputational interests?

First, Take Misconduct Charges Seriously

What you don't want to do is to minimize the misconduct charges. In their student conduct codes, colleges and universities across the country routinely prohibit the possession or use of illegal controlled substances. The student codes of conduct at the University of Connecticut and the University of Oregon are examples. Both prohibit the use or possession of drugs. The University of Oregon's student code of conduct takes it one step further, prohibiting smoking, vaping, or even possessing e-cigarettes with which to vape. And vaping need not involve an illegal drug. Any vaping will do. Student conduct codes generally authorize the school to impose any sanction the school deems appropriate up to and including dismissal. Suspension is a common default sanction to which school disciplinary officials turn, but possession of illegal drugs may well result in expulsion. Even if you are not at all to blame, take any charge seriously. Promptly get skilled and experienced college misconduct defense attorney-advisor representation. Don't hire an unqualified local criminal defense attorney who doesn't know school procedures. Get the help you need.

Second, Tell the Truth

The challenge of getting blamed for a roommate's misconduct is that to exonerate yourself, you're very likely to have to blame the roommate. First, though, consider that whenever you speak about your misconduct matter, and to whomever you speak, be certain to tell the truth. Accepting blame for someone else's misconduct isn't a noble act. Doing so helps no one. Lying in a school disciplinary proceeding, which accepting blame for something you didn't do would be, is itself misconduct, worthy of additional charges. Instead, if you can, avoid giving statements about the matter until you have retained and consulted a skilled and experienced college misconduct defense attorney-advisor. Your retained attorney-advisor will likely arrange for you to meet and speak with school investigators when your attorney-advisor has fully prepared you to do so, with all the evidence you'll need for your exoneration. Depending on the circumstances, you and your attorney-advisor may find it necessary to share information that would implicate your roommate. But then again, you and your attorney-advisor may not. Leave that question for close consultation with your attorney-advisor. Get the help you need, now.

National college misconduct defense attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm have successfully defended hundreds of students nationwide. Call 888.535.3686 or go online now to retain Attorney Lento and his expert team.