Title IX Defense in New Jersey
A Title IX proceeding is a university disciplinary process, not a criminal case, and the two operate on entirely different rules. A student can face both at once arising from the same allegation, and what is said in one can affect the other. Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. handles these matters. Call (888) 437-7747.
Not a Court, and Not Governed Like One
The institution sets the procedure within the framework federal regulation requires. The standard of proof is not the criminal standard. Rules of evidence do not apply as they would in court. The decision-maker is generally a university official or panel rather than a judge. The consequences are academic and can include suspension or expulsion, with a notation that follows a student to other institutions.
Running Alongside a Criminal Matter
Where the same allegation has been reported to police, a student faces parallel proceedings with different timelines and different rules. Statements made in the university process are not protected from the criminal case. Deciding what to say, and when, requires both proceedings to be considered together, which is the principal reason to involve counsel before responding to a notice rather than after.
What an Advisor Can Do
Federal regulation provides for an advisor of the student’s choice, and in a live hearing the advisor conducts cross-examination. What an advisor may do beyond that varies by institution and should be established from the policy rather than assumed. Preparation focuses on the written record: the notice, the evidence file, the policy in force at the time, and whether the process the institution is running matches the process its own policy describes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a Title IX case a criminal case?
No. It is a university disciplinary proceeding with its own procedure and a standard of proof that is not the criminal standard. A criminal matter can proceed separately on the same allegation.
Can I have a lawyer?
Federal regulation provides for an advisor of your choice, who conducts cross-examination in a live hearing. What else an advisor may do varies by institution and should be confirmed from the policy.
Will what I say be used in a criminal case?
It can be. Statements in the university process are not protected from a criminal proceeding, which is why both should be considered together before responding to anything.
About Mr. Sris
Mr. Sris, Owner and Founder of Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C., has practiced since 1997. He is a former prosecutor, and that experience shapes how he reads a charging instrument, a discovery packet and an investigator’s file. He is admitted in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and New York. His background at George Mason University in accounting and information systems applies to technology-related evidence, which appears in a growing share of these cases. Mr. Sris and the firm’s Of Counsel attorneys handle New Jersey matters together, with the division of work set at the start of the engagement.
Speak With Mr. Sris
Request a consultation. Reach our location at (888) 437-7747. Bring the complaint or charging paperwork, any court dates you have been given, the name of the county, and any correspondence from an investigator or agency. Do not discuss the allegation with anyone else before that conversation.
Last updated: August 25, 2026
This page provides general information about New Jersey criminal law and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Case results depend on a variety of factors unique to each case. Results may vary.
Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C., principal office: 4008 Williamsburg Court, Fairfax, VA 22032. By appointment. Call (888) 437-7747 to schedule.
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