The Neumont College of Computer Science is a cutting-edge, tech-focused, for-profit college located in Salt Lake City. As technology becomes a bigger and bigger part of our lives, the college continues to attract more students. However, even the most talented and accomplished of students can lose loan, scholarship, or enrollment opportunities due to a student code violation. Actions that violate Neumont student policies, including violations of state law, can lead to disciplinary hearings that might culminate in suspension or expulsion. Depending on the severity of the violation, there can even be criminal consequences.
If your son or daughter is facing a disciplinary hearing at Neumont College due to an alleged violation of school policy, get them the legal help they need to protect their rights and their future. Hire a Salt Lake City defense attorney with experience representing college students in academic hearings and criminal proceedings. For a free consultation regarding a student hearing at Neumont College in Salt Lake City, contact Overson & Bugden online, or call Neumont disciplinary hearing lawyer Darwin Overson at (801) 758-2287. We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to assist your family.
What Can Lead to Disciplinary Actions at Neumont College?
Serious violations of the Code of Conduct may lead to a disciplinary hearing at Neumont College. The College’s student handbook provides examples of issues that can give rise to disciplinary actions, ranging from illegal use of College computers to crimes like theft or harassment. Criminal conduct is a serious violation not only of state law but student code, which means a misdemeanor or felony charge could lead not only to criminal penalties, but potential suspension or expulsion from the College.
Not only may a student be facing jail time and thousands of dollars in fines; in addition, all of their academic progress and achievements can be undone. A criminal record can interfere with loan and scholarship eligibility, which can create problems for students who depend on financial aid, while making it difficult or impossible to qualify for various internship, volunteer, or study abroad programs. A criminal record can also make it harder to find a job, particularly if the student is expelled instead of graduating.
Crimes College Students Are Commonly Charged With
Some disciplinary actions arise purely from violations of school policy, such as violating the College’s dress code. However, since Neumont’s Code of Conduct broadly prohibits engaging in any illegal or criminal activity, criminal charges also constitute violations of student policy.
Some types of criminal charges are more common than others. For example, some of the most common charges against college students tend to include:
- Charges involving alcohol (such as DUI, public intoxication, or the underage possession of alcohol)
- Charges involving drugs (such as possession of marijuana or distribution of controlled substances)
- Charges involving fighting or brawling (such as simple assault)
- Charges involving property damage and vandalism (such as graffiti or criminal mischief)
- Charges involving sexual harassment and sex crimes (such as rape or aggravated sexual assault)
- Charges involving theft (such as shoplifting)
- Charges involving minor offenses (such as disorderly conduct)
About Criminal Penalties in Utah
If a student is under the age of 18, his or her case will likely be heard in juvenile court unless the alleged crime is one of nine felony offenses enumerated under Utah Code § 78A-6-702, known as Utah’s Serious Youth Offender Act. These offenses include aggravated kidnapping, aggravated robbery, and aggravated sexual assault, among others. Juvenile courts are civil, unlike adult courts (which are criminal), and moreover, offer a greater degree of privacy and confidentiality. If a student is 18 or older – in other words, a legal adult – his or her case will be tried in the adult criminal court system, which is comprised of Justice Courts and District Courts.
Penalties for a criminal offense depend largely on how the offense is classified. For example, a crime can be categorized as a Class C misdemeanor (which has the lowest penalty maximums), a Class B misdemeanor, a Class A misdemeanor, a third degree felony, a second degree felony, or a first degree felony (which has the highest penalty maximums). Each of these categories has a maximum fine and sentence: for instance, up to five years and $5,000 for a third degree felony, or up to six months and $1,000 for a Class B misdemeanor.
However, there are also some other factors that can impact sentencing. For example, some of Utah’s criminal statutes establish enhanced penalties for specific crimes. Mitigating or aggravating factors can also impact the length of a sentence, as can factors like the defendant’s age, background, and criminal history.
Disciplinary Hearings Attorney for Students at the Neumont College of Computer Science
If your son or daughter was arrested for a felony or misdemeanor while attending the Neumont College of Computer Science, talk to an experienced disciplinary hearings attorney about the potential strategies that may be available to your family. Through deft and tactical handling, it may be possible to reduce or avoid certain penalties. To set up a free legal consultation, contact Overson & Bugden online, or call today at (801) 758-2287.
