What To Do When Falsely Accused of Sexual Assault in College

If you’re a student attending college or university, you know how much time and effort goes into getting there. You have to prepare for college entrance exams, work hard in school to maintain high grades, and excel at sports or other extracurricular activities to get an academic or athletic scholarship to attend your dream school. So when an accusation of sexual assault threatens everything you’ve worked so hard for, it’s important to act fast.

The pressure on colleges from state and federal governments to investigate, reprimand, and convict students accused of sexual assault can put innocent students at risk. Colleges face the loss of all federal funding if they fail to investigate appropriately, leading to rushed investigations and mitigation processes that may leave innocent students expelled with a label as a rapist.

It’s important that accused students understand what they’re up against in such situations. Here are some things you should expect:

A Presumption of Guilt

Unfortunately, once someone has been accused of sexual assault in college or university, they’re often presumed guilty by peers and staff. Despite the well-known mantra of “innocent until proven guilty,” many people will believe the accuser rather than giving the accused a chance to tell their side of the story.

A No-Contact Order

Guidelines set by the U.S. Department of Education require every college to completely separate accusers from those accused until guilt is proven – this means that even if an accused student has not yet been found guilty of sexual assault, he or she can expect to receive a no-contact order as part of their investigation. Violating this order can result in harsh consequences.

Some possible restrictions imposed on the accused include orders not to attend classes with their accuser; avoiding campus social spaces like dining halls and fraternities/sororities; ceasing all interactions with the accuser’s friends or associates; and staying away from campus altogether, except for academic purposes.

Inconsistency

One of the most frustrating things for accused students is that there are no uniform rules for resolving cases of sexual assault on college campuses – each school has its own system, which can be confusing and overwhelming. It’s important for accused students to understand their school’s specific guidelines and principles so they have a better chance of fighting any charges made against them.

Experienced Defense Attorney

Finally, it’s essential to connect with an experienced defense attorney who understands the complexities of student disciplinary issues like sexual assault in college or university. At Student Discipline Defense, our team is here to help – contact us at (888) 535-3686 today to learn more about how we can help protect your future.