College & Campus Crimes
A student facing charges is usually in two proceedings at once: the criminal case and the university's own disciplinary process. They follow different rules and different timelines. We handle the criminal defense and coordinate it with the campus process, including diversion routes such as the Holmes Youthful Trainee Act, MCL 762.11 to 762.15.
Two proceedings, running at the same time.
When a Michigan college student is arrested, the criminal prosecution and the university's disciplinary process often run simultaneously. The university can suspend or expel a student before the criminal case is resolved, and it does so under its own standard of proof rather than "beyond a reasonable doubt." Statements made in a campus Title IX or student conduct hearing are generally not protected from use in the criminal proceeding, and the reverse is also true.
Many student charges are less severe than they first appear. A first violation of the minor-in-possession statute, MCL 436.1703, is a civil infraction with a fine of up to $100 — not a misdemeanor. A second violation is a misdemeanor with a fine of up to $200, and jail of up to 30 days only where court-ordered treatment is not completed; a third or subsequent violation carries a fine of up to $500 on the same terms. A deferral is available under MCL 436.1703(14). Possession of a fake ID is a misdemeanor under MCL 28.295, punishable by up to 93 days and a $500 fine, and disorderly conduct under MCL 750.167 carries up to 90 days and $500.
We represent students at the University of Michigan, Eastern Michigan University, Washtenaw Community College, and other campuses throughout Southeast Michigan, coordinating strategy across both proceedings from the point of first contact — before any statement is made to campus investigators or police.
Charges We Defend
- —Minor in possession of alcohol, MCL 436.1703
- —Possession / delivery of marijuana or controlled substances
- —Fake ID, MCL 28.295, and fraudulent use of a credit card
- —Theft / retail fraud on or near campus
- —Criminal sexual conduct and Title IX proceedings
- —Assault and battery, MCL 750.81, and disorderly conduct, MCL 750.167
- —Zero-tolerance and OWI charges under MCL 257.625
Penalties and Consequences
- 01Suspension or expulsion from the university
- 02Effects on financial aid, scholarships, and housing
- 03Notation on the academic transcript
- 04A criminal record that follows professional licensing
- 05Immigration consequences for international students
- 06Questions on law school, medical school, and bar applications
What a college case defense examines.
Holmes Youthful Trainee Act
HYTA, MCL 762.11 to 762.15, reaches an offense committed on or after the 18th birthday and before the 26th, with prosecutor consent required for an offense committed at or after age 21. A youthful trainee is not convicted, and successful completion results in dismissal and a nonpublic record. It does not reach a felony punishable by life, a major controlled substance offense, a traffic offense, or criminal sexual conduct in the first, second, or third degree.
Campus Hearing Coordination
University disciplinary proceedings operate under school-specific rules, not the Michigan Rules of Evidence. We advise students during Title IX investigations, student conduct hearings, and academic integrity panels so the record made there does not undercut the criminal defense.
Fourth Amendment and Police Conduct
Searches at residence halls, fraternity houses, and off-campus rentals raise questions of consent, authority to consent, and scope. We examine every warrant, consent argument, and plain-view claim and seek suppression where the search was unlawful.
Diversion and Plea Alternatives
Several student offenses have statutory deferral routes, including HYTA and the MIP deferral under MCL 436.1703(14), that end in dismissal on successful completion. We pursue these where they fit, and we sequence the criminal resolution alongside the campus process.
College charge questions answered.
What is the Holmes Youthful Trainee Act and do I qualify?
Will a drug or alcohol charge cost me my financial aid?
Should I participate in my university's disciplinary hearing?
I'm an international student. How does an arrest affect my visa?
Speak with an Ann Arbor college defense lawyer.
Campus disciplinary hearings and criminal charges run on separate tracks. We address both.