Maryland Student Charges

A Maryland criminal arrest or conviction can have disastrous consequences on a student's future. A Maryland criminal record often prohibits otherwise qualified student candidates from admission to college and graduate school, maintaining a scholarship, or being offered a post-graduation employment opportunity. It is imperative that university students take Maryland criminal allegations seriously and assure they are handled properly.

As a University student, it is especially important that you retain a skilled Maryland criminal defense attorney who has experience handling charges against college and university students and is prepared to represent you at any disciplinary hearings your school or university might require. Below are two examples of clients we recently represented on charges that might be similar to yours.  

Example 1:

Tracey is a senior in high school who was arrested for smoking a Marijuana cigarette near her friend's home in the Chevy Chase area. Tracey had heard that possession of Marijuana carried a possible year in jail so she immediately contacted an attorney. Her attorney negotiated Tracey's immediate enrollment into the Interventional Program from Substance Abusers, or IPSA. Tracey's attorney then spoke with prosecutors until she was eventually permitted to have her charges dismissed pending completion of the program with supplemental community service. Tracey now enjoys a clean record as she enters into college.

Example 2:

Jake is a twenty one year old junior at a local university with an out of state license but living in Montgomery County. After attending a party and having just a few drinks, Jake decided to drive a few friends home because they were considerably more intoxicated. He did not realize his tail light was out and was pulled over. The mild odor of alcohol aroused the officer's suspicion, who then ordered Jake to exit the vehicle for a field sobriety test. He was taken to the station and charged with a DUI after his blood-alcohol level tested at a 0.12.

Jake immediately sought the counsel of a Maryland Criminal Lawyer who instructed him to enter into an alcohol education program. When the case went to court, Jake was given a Probation Before Judgment, which allowed him to avoid points and jail time for the DUI. Eventually Jake was able to expunge the DUI from his record and able to apply to graduate school without fear his mistake would follow him.

Price Benowitz LLP has represented students from most of the local colleges and universities including: University of Maryland College Park , Howard University, Georgetown University, The George Washington University, American University, Catholic University, Gallaudet University, University of Virginia, George Mason University, Johns Hopkins, UMBC, as well as local community colleges such as Montgomery College and NOVA.