College Student Offenses – Criminal Defense

College and high school students facing criminal charges may suffer serious consequences that could affect their eligibility to remain in school as well their future educational, career and professional goals. Our firm represents college and high school students from Orlando, Central Florida, and throughout the state of Florida, including students attending Rollins College and University of Central Florida (UCF).

We understand the power of the law and how a criminal charge can affect a student’s life. Whether plea negotiations are needed to secure the best possible charge and/or sentence or a trial is required, We will assess your case fully. However other significant evaluations may also be necessary, such as, whether a motion needs to be filed seeking dismissal of a case or suppression of evidence or whether pretrial diversion, a court alternative program, presents a viable option for a client.

UCF and other college and high school students can be charged with virtually any kind of crime. However, our defense lawyers frequently find students charged with the following ones:

• DUI (Driving Under the Influence)
• Fake ID
• Drug Possession
• Underage Drinking
• Resisting Arrest

Don’t Take Pre-Trial Diversion- It is the Last Resort

In Central Florida, if you are a first time offender, and a college student, the first thing the Prosecutors will offer you perhaps, is entry into the Pre Trial Diversion Program.  This program is for low level crimes committed by first time offenders.  Once admitted into the program, you will jump through several hoops, which includes counseling, paying substantial money for program fees, and community service.  Then after a while the case will get dismissed.  Sounds great right? It is great in the right circumstance but it should not be the default.  

An attorney, like us, will not default to the pre trial diversion program.  We will fight your case and explore other ways to get your case dismissed.  The diversion program is a great thing but it has many downsides.  The first downside is that it will take several months before you are admitted to the program because the case load is so backed up.  This is exacerbated by many people taking the diversion program as a default instead of fighting the case and getting a dismissal outright.  This has created a huge logjam in the system.

Worst yet, some attorneys will persuade their clients to take the diversion program without evening seeing the evidence against their client!  

Most college students that I represent want their case over with as quickly as possible so that they can start the expunging process, to clear their record.  All of these are considerations you need to look into when selecting an attorney.

Our law firm will take any and all measures to try and get your case dismissed in court and will only rely on the diversion program as a last resort, so that your case can be dismissed as swiftly as possible so that you can begin clearing your record.

Consequences of Your Case- Expungment

Our law firm understands the serious repercussions that criminal charges may have on your life or that of a family member or friend. Certain criminal offenses may be considered a crime of “moral turpitude” which means that not only are your actions facing sanctions and penalties but your reputation and career may be also at risk, if a conviction is entered on your record.

We strive extremely hard to get our clients case dismissed at the first court date.  This is because we have worked and represented many college students and fraternities/sororities and we know what a typical college student tries to achieve in their collegiate career.  Many college students have to work in internships, and study abroad programs.  These programs require students to undergo intense background checks.  Also if you are doing a study abroad program, you likely have to apply for a visa in the host county, which requires another background check.  Nothing is more embarrassing then getting accepted in a study abroad program just to be denied a visa to leave the country.  This will put a permanent black mark on your collegiate record.

That is why we strive to get your case dismissed and expunge your record as quickly as possible.  To learn more about expungements, visit our expungement page (Sealing or Expunging Criminal Records in Florida).  That is what we do and how we handle your case.   Call us now.