Campus Sexual Assaults: Will a New Rule Give Students Ground to Have Cases Dismissed?

A new rule addressing sexual violence and harassment on college campuses may give accused students legal grounds to get their cases dismissed and limit a victim’s ability to seek help from school officials or campus police.

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Sexual Misconduct on College Campuses

Under a new proposed rule, schools may be required to address incidents of sexual misconduct only if the incidents occur on campus or within school programs and activities. Even if a student is enrolled in the school, incidents of sexual misconduct may be ignored by school officials when they happen off-campus. Incidents that occur on campus may be dismissed and unreported, leaving students with limited recourse for help.

The revision of President Obama’s rules by Education Secretary Betsy DeVos changes the intended scope of federal laws barring sex discrimination in education. Current federal guidelines urge colleges and universities to take action against any sexual misconduct that disrupts a student’s education, whether it takes place on-campus or off-campus. The proposed rule under DeVos will require schools to address incidents of sexual misconduct only when they occur within school programs or activities, excluding incidents that occur off-campus.

Due to confusing language, some school officials claim the new proposal allows schools to handle sexual misconduct cases off-campus at their own discretion, while others claim schools are barred from handling off-campus cases. Colleges have raised concerns that the new proposal will cut off the school’s authority at campus boundaries. The President of the University of Wyoming, Laurie Nichols, says that limiting a school’s powers off-campus will push sexual violence to off-campus areas where offenders are beyond a school’s reach for punishment. Nichols also emphasizes that refusal to take action off-campus will suggest indifference on the part of the institution and minimize the impact of sexual assault or misconduct on the student.

According to recent studies, acts of sexual assault, sexual harassment, and date rape are rising on college campuses around the country. At the University of Minnesota, one in four female undergraduate students say they have been sexually assaulted. In 2017, sexual assault cases at U of M rose significantly, but less than half were investigated by school officials. Most colleges admit that it’s difficult to track off-campus sexual assaults because many are never reported to Minnesota police or assault attorneys, but estimates are as high as 60%. Campus resources make it easier for students victimized by sexual assault to seek help, whether they live in student dorms or off-campus housing.

Max Keller has won countless jury trial cases involving misdemeanors and felonies, sex crimes, and DWI’s. He is a member of the Minnesota Society for Criminal Justice, which only allows the top 50 criminal defense attorneys in the state as members. Max is a frequent speaker at CLE’s and is often asked for advice by other defense attorneys across Minnesota.

Years of Experience: Approx. 20 years
Minnesota Registration Status: Active
Bar & Court Admissions: State of Minnesota Minnesota State Court Minnesota Federal Court 8th Circuit Federal Court of Appeals State of Maryland

What to Do If You Have Been Charged with a Criminal Offense

A Santa Clara University study shows that over one million people in Minnesota have criminal records. In Minneapolis alone, 5,713 crimes are reported annually within an area of 100,000 residents. These criminal cases require the defendants to present evidence challenging the prosecutor's narrative. So, when does the defense present evidence in a criminal case? Your defense team presents evidence at the trial phase right after the prosecution team completes outlining the facts it intends to prove and how its evidence will prove you guilty.
Media attention and public scrutiny after conviction can hurt your personal and professional reputation, especially if your criminal case is high-profile. One of the questions you may ask is: How do I handle media attention and public scrutiny after conviction in Minnesota? You can do that by familiarizing yourself with your rights, having a witness present during a media interview, minimizing media consumption, and taking a break from social media. Building a strong support system and working closely with a criminal defense lawyer can help you handle or minimize the impact of public scrutiny.
The timeline for filing pre-trial motions in a criminal case in Minnesota varies with the type of motion. A motion related to the discovery of evidence or dismissal of a criminal case must be filed at least three days before the Omnibus Hearing. The prosecution is then allowed to respond to the motions, and the court sets the timeline for these responses.