Boston Criminal Defense Law Blog

Law enforcement for underage drinking does not stop on the campus grounds. College students charged with OUI and underage drinking offenses face serious consequences that can last throughout their educational or professional lives. It is illegal for anyone under 21-years-old to drink alcoholic beverages in Massachusetts. Misrepresenting age or engaging in the age-old attempt of falsifying identification carries a…

College fraternity and sororities initiation rites have been popularized in movies such as “Animal House” and on television. However, initiation activities which endanger a student’s physical or mental health are not considered as campus antics and constitutes the criminal offense of hazing. Like other college campus crimes, this offense has serious and long-term legal and educational…

If you are a parent of a college student, you may have various concerns about your child being on his or her own. While you hope everything is going to work out, your child may experience some difficulties at school. One particular worry for parents of college students is alcohol and drug use. The first step in educating…

In November 2017, a white female harassed her black roommate at the University of Hartford. The black student said she always felt tension in the dorm room, and she eventually found a new roommate. When the black student said she was moving, her white roommate admitted she had been contaminating her roommate’s toothbrush with a…

As a parent, it can be hard letting your child leave home for college. You hope you have prepared your son or daughter well for the responsibilities and challenges of life. Even if you have, the brain does not complete full rational development until the age of 25, says the University of Rochester Medical Center. This means that…

Federal law prohibits sexual discrimination under Title IX at schools receiving federal funding and governs their handling of sexual assault and harassment. The U.S. Department of Education is revising its rules to give additional rights to the accused, such as the ability to cross-examine witnesses in college campus disciplinary hearings. The proposal is intended to clarify less formal guidance issued…

College students charged with drug crimes can suffer consequences that can follow them their entire academic and professional lives. Massachusetts imposes criminal penalties for the use or possession of drugs or controlled substances, depending on the type of drug. Possession of drugs without proper authorization is illegal. Possession of a comparatively large quantity of drugs may…

Part of the process of growing up often includes making mistakes. Sometimes, those mistakes come with serious consequences. If you or a loved one face campus disciplinary charges, it is important to understand the possible impact moving forward. Consider a few key facts. FERPA The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act is in place to protect a student’s educational records. This…

Colleges cannot expel or discipline students without providing them a forum to hear the charges and defend themselves. Civil libertarians, however, are claiming that college campus disciplinary hearings and other processes, such as federal administrative hearings, lack due process and do not protect a student’s constitutional rights, according to critics. College students are not immune from accusations…

Many college students do not realize that beyond state or federal law, there is an entirely different governing body that could affect their future. If students are accused of college campus crimes, they could face accusations that could impact the rest of their lives. There are a few legal issues that could impact those accused of…