Key Takeaways
- Two Fights at Once: If you are arrested in college, you face the Guilford County court system and your school’s student conduct board. They are separate.
- Your Future is on the Line: A fake ID or drug charge can lead to suspension or expulsion from UNCG or NC A&T.
- You Need a Champion: Huggins Law Firm, P.C. fights with strategy and counsels with empathy to protect your degree and your freedom.
- Stats Matter: In recent years, UNC Greensboro reported hundreds of crime and safety incidents. Over 45% of these led to disciplinary actions by the school.
- Do Not Wait: The sooner you get an experienced lawyer, the better your chances of saving your college career.
Hi, I am Attorney Micah Huggins. I founded Huggins Law Firm, P.C. because I believe every client deserves clarity, compassion, and a champion in their corner. We have been in business for over a decade. We are highly rated and have won multiple awards.
But awards do not matter when your child is sitting in a jail cell. What matters is getting them out. What matters is saving their future.
Our motto is simple: Justice with Integrity. Representation with Heart. We believe that great representation goes beyond knowing the law. It is about standing up for people when the stakes are high. It is about fighting when the odds are heavy and the system feels overwhelming. We do not just file motions or show up in court. We fight with strategy, we counsel with empathy, and we work to restore what has been lost. We want to bring back your dignity, your stability, and your peace of mind.
We represent the accused in Greensboro, Graham, Burlington, Asheboro, High Point, Kernersville, and Winston-Salem. If you are dealing with a criminal case, Family Law matter, Estate Planning, or Personal Injury, we are here for you.
Today, we need to talk about something very important. We need to talk about college student arrests in Greensboro. If you go to UNC Greensboro (UNCG), North Carolina A&T (NC A&T), or Guilford College, a single mistake can ruin everything.
Let’s dive into how an arrest affects your life and your schooling.
Why Are College Arrests So Common in Greensboro and High Point?
Greensboro is a massive college town. Thousands of young adults live here. With that many young people in one place, mistakes happen.
But let’s look at the facts. People sometimes think Greensboro is a very dangerous place. The truth is a bit different. Recently, serious crimes in Greensboro have actually gone down. According to local police stats, homicides dropped by a huge amount—a 30% decrease from recent peak years. Property crimes are also dropping.
However, college campuses are their own little worlds. At UNC Greensboro, the school reported over 250 on-campus incidents related to crime and safety in a single year. That is about 14 incidents for every 1,000 students.
What happens when a student gets caught? A lot of the time, it leads to a school write-up. In fact, nearly half of all crime incidents at UNCG end up in a disciplinary action.
The police are very strict around college campuses. They look for parties. They look for loud noise. They look for kids walking home late at night. Because of this, college students get arrested a lot. And when they do, they need a strong criminal defense lawyer to protect them.
What Are the Most Common College Student Crimes in Guilford County?
College students usually do not commit major, violent crimes. Most of the time, they get in trouble for things they think are no big deal. But the law thinks it is a very big deal.
Here are the most common charges we see at Huggins Law Firm, P.C.
1. Underage Drinking
You are 19 years old. You go to a party off-campus. The police show up because the music is too loud. You get a ticket for underage drinking.
You might think it is just a ticket. You are wrong. In North Carolina, underage drinking is a Class 1 misdemeanor. If you are convicted, it goes on your permanent criminal record. It can also cause you to lose your driver’s license.
2. Fake IDs
We see this all the time. A student tries to get into a bar in downtown Greensboro. The bouncer takes the ID and calls the cops.
Having a fake ID is a serious crime. It can be charged as a felony in some cases, especially if you made the ID yourself. Even if it is a misdemeanor, having a fake ID charge makes you look dishonest. Future bosses do not like to hire dishonest people.
3. Campus Drug Possession
Marijuana is still illegal in North Carolina. If a Resident Advisor (RA) smells weed in your dorm, they will call campus police.
If you are caught with drugs in your dorm, you are in huge trouble. You face local court charges and school charges. If you are caught selling drugs, the penalties are even worse. If you are facing these charges, you need to read about our drug crimes defense.
4. DWI (Driving While Impaired)
College students go to parties. They drink. Then, they make the bad choice to drive back to their dorm or apartment.
Greensboro police are always watching for drunk drivers. A DWI will turn your life upside down. You will lose your license. Your car insurance will skyrocket. You could go to jail. If you or your child gets a DWI, our DWI defense team is ready to help you fight back.
How Does a Criminal Charge Affect UNCG or NC A&T Student Enrollment?
This is the scariest part. If you get arrested, you do not just face the judge. You also face the school.
Many people think this is “double jeopardy.” Double jeopardy means you cannot be punished twice for the same crime. But that rule only applies to the government. The school is not the government in this way. They have their own rules. You signed a code of conduct when you enrolled.
If you get arrested, the school will find out. Here is what happens next.
The Student Conduct Board
If you are arrested for drugs, drinking, or fighting, you will be called to the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities.
They will hold a hearing. This is not a real court. The rules are different. In a real court, you are innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. In a school hearing, they only need to think it is “more likely than not” that you broke the rules.
If the school finds you responsible, they can punish you. They can kick you out of the dorms. They can suspend you for a semester. Or, they can expel you forever.
Title IX Hearings
If the arrest involves dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, it falls under Title IX. Title IX is a federal law.
These cases are very complex. The school must investigate. You can have a lawyer advise you during this process. If you face a Title IX charge, your whole future is at risk. You could be labeled as a danger.
If you need help with campus crimes, our firm knows exactly how to handle both the courtroom and the school boardroom.
Are Greensboro Crime Stats Getting Worse?
It is easy to get scared by the news. But let’s look at real data from the North Carolina Department of Public Safety and local reports.
In Guilford County, property crimes like stealing cars have actually gone down. Residential burglaries dropped by 35% in recent years compared to 2020. Non-residential burglaries dropped by 21%.
But for college students, the biggest risk is not a random attack. The biggest risk is getting caught up in a bad situation at a party, a bar, or a traffic stop.
According to reports, UNC Greensboro had dozens of arrests for major crimes and drug possession in recent years. This means campus police are very active. They are looking for rule-breakers. You must be careful and know your rights.
What Are the Long-Term Impacts of a Criminal Record on College Grads?
Let’s say you just plead guilty. You pay a fine. You think it is over.
It is not over. A criminal record follows you like a dark cloud.
- Getting a Job: Most jobs run background checks. If they see a drug charge or a fake ID charge, they might throw your resume in the trash.
- Renting an Apartment: Landlords run background checks too. If you have an arrest record, they might say no. You could have a hard time finding a safe place to live.
- Grad School: Do you want to be a doctor, a lawyer, or a nurse? Grad schools ask about your criminal history. A record can stop you from getting into a good program.
- Financial Aid: If you get convicted of a drug crime while getting federal student aid, you could lose your loans and grants. How will you pay for school then?
How Can an Experienced Lawyer Like Micah Huggins Help You?
When you are scared, you need a champion. That is who we are.
At Huggins Law Firm, P.C., we bring preparation, precision, and purpose to every single case. Here is how we help college students in Greensboro, Graham, Burlington, Asheboro, High Point, Kernersville, and Winston-Salem.
1. We Investigate Everything
We do not just trust the police report. Police make mistakes. Sometimes they search a dorm room without permission. Sometimes they pull over a car for no good reason. We look for these mistakes. If the police broke the rules, we can ask the judge to throw the case out.
2. We Talk to the District Attorney
Sometimes, good kids make dumb mistakes. We talk to the prosecutor. We tell them about your grades. We tell them about your volunteer work. We try to get you into a diversion program. If you finish the program, the charges might get dropped.
3. We Help with the School Hearing
We do not just leave you to face the school alone. We help you prepare for your student conduct hearing. We help you figure out what to say. We work to keep you enrolled so you can finish your degree.
4. We Aim for Expungement
If we get your charges dismissed, we do not stop there. We want to erase the arrest from your public record. This is called an expungement. We want you to graduate with a clean slate.
How Does the Guilford County Court System Work for College Students?
If you are arrested in Greensboro or High Point, your case goes to the Guilford County court system.
It starts with an arrest. You might be taken to the local jail. A magistrate judge will set your bail. After you get out, you will have a first court date.
The Guilford County Courthouse can be a scary place. It is loud. It is crowded. The judges move fast. If you go in alone, you might get run over by the system.
But you do not have to go alone. You can bring us. We know the judges. We know the prosecutors. We know how things work in Guilford County, Alamance County (Burlington), and Randolph County (Asheboro).
We also know how to use local statistics to help your case. For example, knowing that overall violent crime has decreased across the state helps us push back on overly harsh prosecutors. Knowing the data helps us build a smarter defense for you.
10 of the Most Common Questions Asked About Student Arrests in North Carolina
When parents call our office, they are usually in a panic. They ask a lot of questions. Here are the top ten questions we get, and the simple answers you need.
1. Will my child be kicked out of UNCG or NC A&T for an arrest?
Maybe. It depends on the charge and the school’s rules. A minor speeding ticket will not get you kicked out. But a drug charge, a violent fight, or a sexual assault charge can lead to suspension or expulsion. You need a lawyer to fight the school charges.
2. Do the police have to tell the college if a student is arrested off-campus?
Yes, they often do. The Greensboro Police Department works closely with campus police. If you are arrested in downtown Greensboro, the school will usually find out very fast. Do not try to hide it.
3. Can the school search a dorm room without a warrant?
Yes. When you live in a dorm, you sign a housing contract. This contract usually says the school can search your room if they have a good reason. However, city police still need a warrant or your permission to search your room.
4. What is a diversion program?
A diversion program is a second chance. It is usually for first-time offenders. You agree to do community service and take some classes. If you finish everything, the court dismisses the charge. This is a great way to protect your criminal record.
5. If the court drops the charges, will the school drop their charges?
Not always. The court and the school are totally separate. The judge might say you are innocent, but the school might still say you broke their rules. You have to win both fights.
6. Do I really need a lawyer for an underage drinking ticket?
Yes. Do not just pay the fine. Paying the fine means you plead guilty. A guilty plea gives you a criminal record. A lawyer can often get the ticket reduced or thrown out so your record stays clean.
7. How long does a misdemeanor stay on my record in North Carolina?
If you are convicted, it stays on your record forever unless you get it expunged. North Carolina recently changed its expungement laws. Some misdemeanors can be wiped away after a few years, but it is a complex process.
8. What happens if an international student is arrested?
This is an emergency. A criminal charge can cause an international student to lose their student visa. They could be deported. You need a lawyer who understands how criminal charges affect immigration status.
9. Can I just use a public defender?
You can use a public defender if you cannot afford a lawyer. Public defenders are good lawyers, but they have way too many cases. They do not have time to hold your hand. They also cannot help you with your school hearings. A private lawyer can give you the time and attention you need.
10. How much does a criminal defense lawyer cost?
Every case is different. A simple ticket costs less than a serious felony. At Huggins Law Firm, P.C., we are upfront about our fees. We believe you deserve clarity. We will tell you exactly what it will cost before you hire us.
Let Us Stand Up For You
One legal mistake can ruin your life. We will not let that happen.
If you or your college student has been arrested in Greensboro, High Point, Burlington, or anywhere else in the area, do not wait. The clock is ticking. The school is already building their case against you.
We are Huggins Law Firm, P.C. We practice Criminal Defense, Family Law, Estate Planning, and Personal Injury. We bring representation with heart. We are ready to be your champion.
Visit our home page today to schedule your defense. Let us help you rebuild your life.
(Here are helpful resources for more information:)
