If your child is considering college in Utah, they would be making a good choice. According to U.S. News & World Report, it ranks number five in tuition and fees and seven in higher education. Utah is also a fairly safe state with some of the lowest homicide rates in the nation.
However, that doesn’t mean it’s free from crime. It’s just like any other place — people are charged, and there’s a legal system to determine the punishment.
If your out-of-state student is accused of committing a crime, here’s what you should do.
This is absolutely the first and possibly most important thing that you should do if your out-of-state student is accused of a crime in Utah.
It’s not enough to just put your family lawyer on the case, especially if you live somewhere else. Every state has different laws, and Utah is no exception. That is why you need someone who specializes in criminal defense and is licensed to practice law in Utah.
You’ll find that with any of the lawyers at Brown, Bradshaw & Moffat. All of them have years of experience defending clients in the Beehive State. If your student is accused of a crime, tell us about your case, and we’ll get back to you.
A good attorney will be one who both attended law school and has practiced the profession for years. This means their lawyer will have a deep understanding of Utah laws as well as the legal process. Both are extremely important. Navigating the court system can be a minefield, and it works differently in every state.
For these reasons, it’s important for your student to talk to the lawyer about the case and take all advice seriously. The attorney will know the best course of action based on what your child is accused of and what evidence the state has against them.
This is something that should be done preemptively, before your student steps foot in Utah. While the state may have different laws, the rights that you have are the same throughout the United States.
In particular, your student should know one part of the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution:
“No person…shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law….”
In other words, your student has the right not to incriminate themselves. That doesn’t just apply to court. It’s whenever they are talking to a police officer or any other representative of the state. Your student shouldn’t talk with anyone without first consulting with their defense attorney, even if they did not commit the crime.
Before your student goes to college in Utah, it’s important to have a discussion with them about the legal consequences that their actions can have. This also includes helping them to understand some of the laws that might be different from your state. Here are some of the common laws that college students tend to break and the punishments they may expect:
Whether your student committed the crime or not, the legal process they are about to go through can be emotionally and financially draining. Being the support system your student needs can go a long way. This can include helping them pay for legal services, but it can just be staying present in their lives, offering words of encouragement, and staying up-to-date with the case.
That kind of support can go a long way and help your child end up with the best outcome possible.
If you or your stuent is accused of a crime in Utah, the attorneys at Brown, Bradshaw & Moffat would love to help you out.
To get started, fill out this form and tell us about your case. We’ll get right back to you.
