Nashville Criminal Defense Lawyer for College Students
Nashville Criminal Defense Lawyer & Former Prosecutor Kevin Kennedy. 615-205-7311. Call or text for a free consultation.
The Criminal Case and the School Process Are Separate
A Nashville arrest can create two different problems for a college student: a Davidson County criminal case and a possible university disciplinary process. An arrest is not a conviction, but a school may have policies that address off-campus conduct, alcohol or drugs, violence, weapons, or other behavior.
The exact school consequences depend on the university's current policies and the facts. A student should not assume that dismissal of the criminal charge automatically ends a school matter, or that a school finding determines guilt in criminal court.
Why Should a Student Be Careful About Statements?
A student may be asked to provide a written account, attend a meeting, or answer questions while the criminal case is still pending. Statements made in a separate disciplinary process can potentially become relevant to the criminal case.
Before giving a detailed account of the same incident, the student should understand the criminal-defense implications and any applicable school requirements.
What Types of Arrests Can Create School Concerns?
- DUI or alcohol-related charges
- Drug possession
- Assault or domestic assault
- Theft
- Weapons allegations
- Disorderly conduct or public intoxication
- Other conduct involving students or university property
The seriousness of the allegation, whether it occurred on campus, and whether another student was involved can affect the school's response.
What If the Incident Happened Off Campus?
Off-campus conduct can still matter under some university policies. Nashville students frequently live, work, drive, and socialize away from campus, including downtown, Midtown, The Gulch, and other areas.
Whether the university has jurisdiction over a particular incident is a policy question separate from whether the State can prove the criminal charge.
Could a Criminal Case Affect Scholarships, Internships, or Licensing?
Potential collateral consequences extend beyond university discipline. A conviction can affect applications for internships, employment, graduate programs, professional schools, housing, and professional licenses.
That is one reason the defense should consider possible dismissal, diversion, retirement, expungement, and other non-conviction outcomes when legally available.
What Evidence Should the Student Preserve?
Keep police paperwork, court documents, emails from the school, disciplinary notices, texts, photographs, videos, witness information, and other records connected to the incident.
Do not delete evidence or coordinate accounts with other students. Preserve the original material and allow counsel to evaluate it.
Can Diversion Help a College Student?
Tennessee recognizes judicial and pretrial diversion for eligible defendants. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation explains that successful diversion can lead to expungement when the legal requirements are satisfied and the defendant returns to court to request it.
Diversion is not available in every case and should not be accepted without considering the evidence, conditions, and alternatives.
Should the Criminal Lawyer Handle the School Case Too?
That depends on the lawyer and the proceeding. Even when separate counsel is needed for a university matter, the criminal-defense strategy and school response should be coordinated so that one process does not unnecessarily damage the other.
The student should make sure any lawyer advising on school discipline knows that a criminal case is pending.
Talk With a Nashville Criminal Defense Lawyer
Kevin Kennedy is a former Davidson County prosecutor who represents college students and other defendants charged with crimes in Nashville and throughout Middle Tennessee. Kevin Kennedy Law Firm can evaluate the criminal case and help the student understand how parallel school issues may affect defense decisions.
Call Kevin Kennedy Law Firm at (615) 205-7311 to discuss the case.