For Students, Drug Charges are a Particularly Serious Matter

Wisconsin has some of the strictest drug laws in the nation. Marijuana is illegal at both a state and federal level, and Wisconsin drug charges often carry serious felony-level consequences. Wisconsin students are particularly vulnerable to the direct and collateral consequences of a Wisconsin drug conviction. From difficulties obtaining financial aid and student housing to rejection or dismissal from Wisconsin universities, a single drug offense can have lifetime consequences for students.

Pleading guilty to a drug offense is still considered a drug conviction in Wisconsin. Even a misdemeanor drug conviction subjects Wisconsin students to serious financial, NCAA, and educational consequences. Working with a criminal defense team that takes a holistic approach to drug crimes defense is essential for current and future college students.

The top-rated Appleton drug defense lawyers at Hogan Eickhoff consider the impact of Wisconsin drug charges on your educational and career goals. We defend Wisconsin students against serious state or federal drug charges while fighting to mitigate the impact of a potential conviction on your financial aid, admissions, student housing, NCAA, and professional license applications. If you’re a student charged with a drug crime in Wisconsin, contact the Appleton, Green Bay, and Oshkosh criminal drug defense lawyers at Hogan Eickhoff immediately online or by calling (920) 450-9800 for your free defense consultation.

Potential Consequences of Wisconsin Drug Convictions on Students

The consequences of a drug conviction on Wisconsin college students depend on a number of factors. These include the nature of the conviction, as well as any applicable laws, university admissions standards, and student handbook policies. Most public and private universities have drug use and crime policy outlined in the student handbook. However, an experienced Wisconsin drug defense lawyer should address each of the following potential consequences of a drug conviction with students:

• Non-Academic Dismissal: Students convicted of serious felony drug offenses such as drug trafficking or causing injury/illness to another student are often immediately dismissed from Wisconsin public or private universities. They receive neither a degree nor a refund, and it is difficult to obtain admission to another university with a criminal dismissal on your record. This dismissal will appear on your transcripts, and most universities impose a waiting period before a convicted felon may apply for readmission, which is rarely granted.
• Probation: Students otherwise subject to dismissal due to a drug conviction may advocate instead for the imposition of disciplinary probation. Wisconsin students subject to probation are often barred from extracurricular activities, Greek life, and student housing but are permitted to attend class and remain enrolled in their program. They must generally keep a clean record and maintain a certain GPA during this probationary period.
• NCAA & Athletic Scholarships: The NCAA has separate standards for those convicted of a drug offense. NCAA athletes may be barred from athletics or placed on probation, which prevents them from competing in NCAA tournaments and events. This may, in turn, result in the loss of an athletic scholarship and a loss of eligibility. NCAA athletes testing positive for illegal substances or subject to Wisconsin drug offenses should immediately contact an NCAA drug defense attorney.
• Academic & Merit Scholarships: Most academic or meritorious scholarships are not offered to students with a drug conviction and/or are withdrawn after the fact. This depends on the terms of the scholarship as outlined by financial aid and the student handbook. Students in danger of losing a substantial scholarship should immediately request these documents and contact a Wisconsin drug defense attorney.
• Federal Financial Aid: Federal financial aid packages such as subsidized loans, FAFSA and Pell Grants may be linked to clean criminal records. You may not be eligible for aid if you’ve been convicted of a felony or have outstanding fines and court charges. Aid may also be suspended during incarceration or indefinitely after a drug offense.
• Private & Graduate Loans: Private loans are often needed to cover gaps in financial aid, especially after the loss of a scholarship. Students convicted of a felony may be denied a private loan or be subject to higher interest on loans.
• Student Housing: Most student handbooks address the possession and use of drugs on campus and in student housing. A drug conviction often results in removal from or ineligibility for student housing, and students with a drug conviction may find it difficult to obtain private housing.
• Undergraduate & Graduate Admissions: Some universities automatically disqualify applicants with serious felony convictions, and highly competitive programs rarely offer slots to students with a recent criminal record. Students convicted of a drug offense may be limited to all access to public or online colleges.
• Professional Licensure & Testing Applications: Students rarely consider the impact of a drug conviction on their future careers. Many doctorial and graduate students must apply for admission and licensure in their field even if they successfully graduate with a degree. Law students will likely have their bar applications rejected after a drug conviction, and medical and nursing students may be denied practice certification if they have a record of illegally obtaining or misusing controlled substances.

Wisconsin drug convictions carry particularly harsh direct and collateral consequences for students. A single mistake can derail your academic and professional future, but hiring an experienced Wisconsin drug defense attorney immediately may protect students from the worst of these penalties. Getting drug charges dismissed, pleading guilty to lesser-included charges, or fighting for an alternative sentencing arrangement may protect Wisconsin college students.

Call Us Today to Schedule a Free Case Evaluation with an Appleton Criminal Defense Attorney

Early intervention and advocacy in court and with university officials may protect students accused of a Wisconsin drug crime. There are ways to prevent and mitigate the serious consequences faced by Wisconsin students charged with a drug offense, but it takes a team of dedicated drug defense lawyers who understand the scope of these penalties to do so. Don’t delay. Call Hogan Eickhoff’s student drug defense attorneys today at (920) 450-9800 or contact us online for your free Wisconsin criminal defense consultation.