The early fall is back-to-school season for college students across New Jersey. Unfortunately, along with new classes and dorm move-in day comes a wave of certain crimes. As a parent, it is common to worry about your son or daughter making a poor judgment call and having a run-in with the law. Along with criminal consequences, a single bad choice could jeopardize a promising young person’s academic career.
WHAT ARE THE STATISTICS?
According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), approximately 28,500 criminal activities occurred against people and property on college campuses in 2018, the year of the most recent study. Of these, the most common crimes included:
- Sex offenses
- Burglaries
- Motor vehicle thefts
- Assault and battery
- Robbery
The data from the NCES indicate that about 19.5 crimes occur per every 10,000 full-time students.
WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES?
No one should simply dismiss a college student’s actions as harmless fun. The results can include criminal penalties such as:
- Probation
- Community service
- Drug and alcohol treatment
- Driver’s license suspension
- Sex offender registration
- Jail time
Actions that carry criminal sentences almost always have academic consequences as well. The most common include academic probation, suspension and expulsion.
WHEN COLLEGE STUDENTS FACE A CRIMINAL CHARGE
Sending a child away to college is always a fear-inducing time for parents. While it’s exciting to see a young person advance their education, there is also the concern that they will exercise poor judgment or have a run-in with the law. As your college kid adjusts to the new school year, you should have a conversation with them about the importance of adhering to the law and their school’s code of conduct. If they do face an accusation, even if it is unfounded, they should come to you as soon as possible for help. A criminal defense attorney like the Law Offices Of Michael P. McGuire LLC, can protect your student’s rights; call 732-704-7331 or contact the firm for more information.