Sexual Assault on College Campuses: Balancing Student Safety with the Rights of the Accused
Sexual assault is an increasingly common problem on college campuses in California. Unfortunately, in their efforts to address this issue, many campuses go too far. In the aftermath of a few recent and well-publicized incidents, several campuses are pushing for or have already implemented concerning measures that could infringe on the rights of alleged student offenders. According to the Los Angeles Times, California lawmakers are aware of these measures and are currently looking into a proposal that would require schools to be more transparent about their means of disciplining student offenders.
Although it is important for schools to address the growing problem of sexual assault on college campuses, some skeptics worry that colleges currently lack the resources necessary to properly investigate complaints involving sexual harassment and assault. College tribunals are notoriously unreliable — and their efforts often result in devastation for accused student offenders. One of the most notable and concerning examples of this phenomenon involved a UC San Diego student who was not allowed to question the accuser during a university hearing.
The role of alcohol in sexual assault cases is of major concern, as intoxication of both the accused offender and victim is often a factor. With such hazy memories, it can be difficult to determine whether the victim’s accusations are valid. Often, no witnesses are present to shed light on the victim or the accused individual’s claims.
The current sexual assault proposals involving California universities have passed in one house and are pending in the other. If this legislation is implemented, it will be more important than ever for accused individuals to seek counsel from a reliable criminal defense attorney in Los Angeles. Alleged student offenders may be forced to contend not only with the California criminal justice system, but also the universities they attend or attended at the time of the incident.
For a consultation with an experienced criminal defense attorney in Los Angeles, call now at (310) 277-1707, or go to our website: www.youareinnocent.com
