Frequently Asked Questions from Parents
- What is the purpose of Judicial Affairs?
- What policies should my student be aware of?
- What happens if my son/daughter is charged with a judicial violation?
- Who can place judicial charges?
- Will I be notified if my student is charged with a violation?
- What constitutes a major or minor alcohol/drug violation?
- What are my student's rights in the judicial process?
- Should my son/daughter get a lawyer for a judicial charge?
- My son/daughter was a victim of an
assault, harassment, or theft.
What should he/she do?
- If the incident occurs off-campus, will JMU get involved?
- How are sanctions determined?
- What is the "Three Strikes" policy?
- My student was placed on probation. What does that mean?
- I think my son/daughter has a problem
with alcohol or drugs.
How can the university help?
- What is the purpose of Judicial Affairs?
- What policies should my student be aware of?
- What happens if my son/daughter is charged with a judicial violation?
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- Who can place judicial charges?
- Will I be notified if my student is charged with a violation?
- What constitutes a major or minor alcohol/drug violation?
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- Distribution of drugs
- Hospitalization due to alcohol/drugs
- Driving Under the Influence
- Keg registration violation
- Under the influence of drugs
- Felony possession of drugs
- Alcohol and drugs in the same incident
- Distribution of drugs
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- Open Container
- Underage possession of Alcohol
- Possession of marijuana
- Drunk in Public
- Open Container
- What are my student's rights in the judicial process?
- Should my son/daughter get a lawyer for a judicial charge?
- My son/daughter was a victim of an assault, harassment, or theft. What should he/she do?
- If the incident occurs off-campus, will JMU get involved?
- How are sanctions determined?
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- What is the "Three Strikes" policy?
- My student was placed on probation. What does that mean?
- I think my son/daughter has a problem with alcohol or drugs. How can the university help?
- Counseling and Student Development Center
Varner House
568-6552
http://www.jmu.edu/cousnelingctr/
Services: substance abuse consultation, education, screening, assessment, referrals, and individual and group counseling.
- University Health Center
568-2831
http://www.jmu.edu/healthctr/
http://www.jmu.edu/healthctr/peers/programstext.htm#substanceabuse
alcohol and drug peer education programs, educational brochures, health screenings
- Harrisonburg-Rockingham Community Services Board
1241 N. Main Street
Harrisonburg, VA 22802
540-434-1941
Services: mental health 24-hour emergency services, intensive outpatient substance abuse treatment including case management, prevention, consultation, and education services for residents of Harrisonburg or Rockingham County.
- L.I.F.E. Recovery Program
Rockingham Memorial Hospital
752 Ott St. (Wine Price Building)
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
540-564-5629
www.rmhonline.com
Services: intensive outpatient substance abuse treatment services including:
evaluation and assessment for chemical dependency, individual counseling for addiction, ACOA issues, and family counseling.
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Our Mission: We are committed to promoting student learning, civic responsibility and, in partnership with others, developing the environment necessary for the university to best achieve its educational mission.
Our goal is to educate students about policies, community standards, and their responsibilities as citizens of JMU and Harrisonburg, while considering the safety of the entire JMU community.
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It is your student's responsibility to know and obey federal, state, and local laws in addition to the James Madison University policies found in the Student Handbook. The handbook can be accessed online at www.jmu.edu/handbook.
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Judicial Process Steps
Judicial violations are most frequently reported by Campus Police, Residence Life, Parking Services, and Harrisonburg/Rockingham General District Court and faculty members. Students can report violations directly to the Office of Judicial Affairs as well. All reported violations are reviewed by a case manager who determines if there is enough evidence to place the charge. Judicial Affairs sends a letter to the student indicating the charge and the individual or department where the charge originated.
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The Family Educational Rights to Privacy Act (FERPA) prevents us from disclosing information regarding judicial charges to parents unless the charge is related to alcohol or drugs.
Therefore, parents are only notified by the Office of Judicial Affairs when their student is found responsible on campus, or arrested off campus for a major alcohol or drug violation or a second minor alcohol or drug violation. If your student is charged with any violation, we may discuss the case with you if your student signs a FERPA waiver form. We encourage you to talk to your son or daughter directly regarding any judicial charge.
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Some examples of major alcohol/drug violations are:
Minor violations include, but are not limited to:
Accused Student Rights
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Your student has the right to have a lawyer advise them during a judicial hearing. However, the lawyer may not speak on behalf of the student in a hearing. Typically, students do not get a lawyer for a judicial hearing unless they are representing them criminally for the same case.
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Your student can come into the Office of Judicial Affairs and meet with the Case Manager/Victims Advisor, Ms. Tammy Knott. She will go over your student's rights, explain the judicial process, and present additional options your student has for reporting the incident.
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If a student is convicted for an alcohol or drug violation or any felony in Harrisonburg or Rockingham County, they will also be charged with a violation of JMU policy.
The mission statements of the university and judicial affairs indicate JMU's desire to graduate "educated and enlightened citizens." Through off-campus adjudication we are able to educate students on their civic responsibilities as citizens of the larger community, as well students of JMU.
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Our goal in sanctioning is to educate students on policies, decision-making, and risk-reduction strategies.
Sanctions are determined based on the charge, the student's previous judicial history (if any), the student's perceived needs, and the guidelines of the Student Handbook. Click here to view the sanctioning guidelines: JMU Handbook: Sanctions
This policy states that if a student is found responsible for three alcohol or drug violations during their academic career they may be suspended for a minimum of one semester. Students with major alcohol/drug violations may be suspended prior to receiving three strikes.
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Probation means that the student has a record with our office. This does not affect his/her academics in any way and is not reflected on the student's transcript.
If a student violates university policy while on probation then his or her sanction will be more severe. Repeated violations of JMU policy could result in a student's suspension from the university.
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You can encourage your student to contact someone in the Counseling and Student Development Center on campus, or to seek out a resource in the local community. Below is contact information for several campus and local resources. Judicial Affairs frequently refers to students to these resources as well.