Lynchburg Criminal Defense Blog

Students attending college in Virginia will likely be spending a lot of money on university expenses this year. Between books, school supplies, and the fees of classes themselves, college can be a pretty pricy endeavor. This makes it all the more important for students to be aware of the fraud that can take place within higher education.

From the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners comes a report on cases of fraud crimes within higher education. A few examples are as follows:

• Some professors may order desk copies of textbooks from publishing companies and resell them online for a profit
• Department heads can funnel department funds into their own personal funds
• Friends and relatives of deans or other chairpersons may be hired into assistant positions
• A professor could send the same paper abstract to different conferences to score multiple trips to that country

Residents in Virginia who are held on suspicion of drinking while driving will likely be subjected to any number of tests. Police will do this to determine whether or not it is actually a DUI-related incident. Here are some of the actions that an officer may take when looking to see how drunk a person is.

Field sobriety tests are sometimes used, but are often considered to be a little less reliable. FieldSobrietyTests.org states that there are standardized and non-standardized versions of these tests. The standardized ones are used more often and include the walk-and-turn, the horizontal gaze nystagmus, and the one-leg stand.

When students start their first year of college in Virginia, they may not consider how they will handle alcohol. Students may easily find themselves involved with alcohol, though, and it is important for them to understand how they can enjoy college life while remaining sober.

Students may find themselves using alcohol in college for a number of reasons. RehabCenter.net says that some people may turn to this substance when they feel overwhelmed by their coursework. Other students may drink because their friends and classmates do, and they may feel pressured to fit in. It is important for students to remember, though, that alcohol may sometimes cause more problems. People who drink might find themselves overusing this substance if it is their go-to stress reliever and some students may find themselves in trouble with the law if they are intoxicated when they drive home.

At the law office of Mark B. Arthur, PC, we are looking forward to the start of another school year as much as proud parents and excited students are. The beginning of college is an important milestone for college students in Virginia and across the country. As a parent, you want your child to have a memorable first year, but you also want him or her to stay safe throughout the year.

You may remember alcohol playing a significant role in your college days, which might make you apprehensive for your child. As you know, many college students drink at parties and sporting events, as well as at bars with their newfound friends. While drinking responsibly can be a fun part of the college experience, the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence points out that many college kids abuse alcohol by binge-drinking or becoming dependent upon it. Misusing alcohol can result in numerous legal and safety issues. Each year, about 599,000 college students between the ages of 18 and 24 are injured in alcohol-related accidents, particularly drunk driving. Students may also be at risk of physical or sexual assault and property damage charges related to alcohol consumption.