Academic dismissal can happen for many reasons, one of them being accused and found guilty of sexual assault on campus. Due to the nature of sex crimes, the fingers are usually pointed toward the accused individual, and there is little support for them. If you have been accused of a sex crime you did not commit, it is important that you are aware of your rights.
Federal law has provided various protections and rights for the accused in a sexual assault case, including the right to hire an attorney and the right to representation. Handling a legal case, especially one like this, is difficult and requires professional expertise. To learn more about your legal rights, click here.
Reasons you need a lawyer if you have been accused of sexual assault on campus.
1. Get a just hearing
Sexual assault charges are not easy to deal with. You need strong legal representation, strategic arguments, and solid evidence to prove your innocence. Moreover, due to the nature of the charges, people are likely to assume the defendant is the guilty one. However, the law has given certain rights to the accused individual, and you must use them.
If the school wants to remove you based on the complaint, an attorney can lower the punishment and ask them to reconsider their decision. They can ensure the process is fair and that there are no stereotypes at work.
2. Get counseling about the process
Not every day, you wake up and find out that you have been accused of a sexual crime. This may be your first time dealing with such a situation, and you may not know what to do. Researching about it on google, learning about your rights on the internet, and gaining information about the legal system from unreliable sites can crush your chances of winning.
An attorney is your best bet to retain your status as a student and save your future. Hiring an attorney will allow you to get counseling about the process and figure out how things work.
3. Learn how to fight
While you do not actually need to get into a physical fight during the hearing, you must know how to stand up for your rights. In most schools, the attorney can only sit with the student and not offer advice. So, you have to fight much of the case on your own. An attorney can teach you how to present your case, how to answer tricky questions from the other party, etc.
4. The possible consequences
Having a conviction for sexual assault on your record can have serious and far-reaching consequences. Depending on the nature of the allegations, you may be subject to a criminal penalty, including incarceration and potential fines. In addition to potential legal penalties, you could face sanctions at your school or workplace, such as suspension or expulsion from college and termination of employment.
A competent attorney will work vigorously to protect your constitutional rights throughout the entire process so that you are not unfairly overcharged with very serious offenses that carry significant penalties once convicted.
Conclusion
From helping ensure that all relevant evidence is presented in court to understanding how best to make arguments on your behalf, having legal representation can make all the difference. This is especially true when confronting large institutions such as universities who may have their own resources for defending those accused of sexual assault on campus.
