Role of Parents and Universities in Annapolis Underage DUI Charges

One of the most important things for parents of students in high school and college to recognize is that alcohol is everywhere. It is prevalent all over the media, television, advertisements, and more. It is very much a part of our culture and our everyday lives.

Therefore, parents should address alcohol-related issues at a very young age, as well as ensure that their child gets a good driver’s education. Parents should know and communicate to their children what the consequences of their actions would be, legal and societal if they drove under the influence of alcohol.

Further, parents of underage young adults who have been charged with a DUI will want to sit down with an experienced underage DUI lawyer that they can trust. The parents become a very important part of the process because most people under the age of 21 cannot afford a lawyer by themselves. Underage student’s universities may also play a significant role in their DUI charge, and a skilled attorney should be prepared to work with them as well. It is not the lawyer’s job to tell the young adult’s parents or their university anything, but it is certainly in their best interests for the parents to know how best to handle their case.

Role of a Parent

If the underage individual decides to include their parents, they will typically play a strong role in getting their child the necessary alcohol education following the incident. Furthermore, they may also assist the child in finding a good facility if more substantive care is needed for an alcohol problem. If these issues are not dealt with in a quick and effective manner in young adults, this could lead to even more catastrophic behavior in the future.

In all, parents can play a uniquely important role in their child’s life, who may not take the issue seriously. A young person often cannot win a case without showing the judge that they take the problem seriously and handle it in a mature manner, which is something parents can assist with effectively. If a young person can take responsibility for their actions and own up to their mistakes, this shows strong character and can help greatly in their case.

Although the state attorney’s office can only make a recommendation to a judge, not decide the case, they can have considerable influence on its outcome. Prosecutors want to see that the underage person charged with a DUI in Annapolis is taking their case seriously, and this can be shown through the person attending alcohol education classes.

Uncovering Offenses

A DUI investigation or conviction for an underage DUI in Annapolis is a matter of public record. The Maryland judiciary case search is online and can be found through a simple Google search. However, there is very little incentive for schools to search students’ names. If it is not going to affect the school or the student code of conduct, many universities understand that people make mistakes and they may get in trouble, but also that investigation may be mere accusations. DUI allegations in Annapolis have been made that have not been proven in any way, and if a person has not been found guilty, then there should be no action taken against them.

University Repercussions

There is truly no clear answer with regards to what a university will do if a student is convicted for a DUI while being underage. The conviction does not necessarily affect the student’s code of conduct, but it could suggest the character of an individual. If the student conduct handbook requires that if a person gets in trouble with the law in any way, then this could affect the student’s status, but this greatly varies by school and circumstance.

The school may ask the person to attend a student conduct hearing. They may also send the individual a letter asking that they complete an alcohol education program and do some community service. It depends on the school, as well as the student’s role and relationship with the school. If the student has an academic or athletic scholarship, the school may be more involved in learning more about the incident. A student may find that the school does not necessarily want to impose a penalty, but rather assist them in getting them back on track.

Taking Responsibility

The person who is underage and facing a DUI in Annapolis should surround themselves with a good group of people who understand the consequences of these types of actions and whom may have had a similar experience and learned from it. Therapy groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous can be a valuable tool for this purpose. Universities and parents with an underage individual facing DUI charges in Annapolis should be expected to foster any aid looking into these programs.

If a person shows that they are mature and takes responsibility for the DUI conviction by seeking help and education, this may impress the judge enough to reduce or remove a possible jail sentence. Anything of this nature can only help, so it is in a person’s best interests to take the initiative and work on self-improvement before the judge makes a final decision.