A Letter from Our Office to Parents of Rutgers Students Preparing to Return to Campus

Finally, schools are fully opening back up, and the entire Rutgers community is coming back to “The Banks” for, hopefully another amazing school year. Yet, parents new and old alike understand that college is the bridge to adulthood that brings certain new challenges. This letter is written to inform parents of some of the potential legal challenges their young adults may face in the college environment. The criminal system is always in flux, and since students last lived on campus, many laws have changed in the state of New Jersey of which all college students should be aware.



First, marijuana is now legal in small amounts for people 21 and over. This is a popular recreational activity for college students yet while previously it brought legal challenges for simple possession, those laws are no longer applicable. However, even with its legalization, there still are challenges students may face and have to grapple with while on campus. Possession of Marijuana is legal; selling marijuana is still illegal in the state. Furthermore, possession is only legal up to 6 ounces, beyond that, it is still a crime, and the criminal penalties could still be harsh. Finally, because of Rutgers’ status as a university, marijuana possession is still not allowed in any of its properties, including dorms, academic buildings, and facilities to name a few. Getting caught with marijuana in a dorm, for example, could carry severe criminal penalties and could jeopardize a students’ access to their FAFSA loans.

Second, the expungement process in the state has changed as well. You can find more on that in our earlier blog here. Basically, you are now able to expunge more nonviolent drug-related offenses, the expungement system is now done online, and the waiting period to expunge your past charges has decreased. The expungement waiting period has been removed for some minor, marijuana-related charges.

Some of your children may decide to be involved in Greek Life. Our offices encourage this involvement as Greek Life can be a very positive experience in a student’s college life. If your child joins a fraternity or a sorority and has legal issues, our offices are very familiar with these matters. Mr. Morrell takes great pride in being a member of the Standard Committee for a national fraternity for many years, where he determines whether sanctions and rehabilitative programs are necessary for chapters throughout the country. He also previously served as an advisor for a fraternity house at the Rutgers New Brunswick Campus. He has defended many students who were charged with crimes related to fraternity and sorority activities. No matter what extra-curricular activities your child decides to get involved in, they will quickly start to settle into a friend group. We recommend that you ask your young adult to provide you with the phone number of a friend so that you have another point of contact if necessary.

If your college student runs into any personal issues, especially involving alcohol or marijuana use, they may need to take advantage of the mental health services offered through CAPS (Counseling, Alcohol, and Other Drug Assistance Program, Psychiatric Services) at Rutgers. While many students are adjusting to new freedoms and the college environment, they may find themselves overwhelmed and potentially making risky decisions. Rutgers provides one-on-one counseling, group therapy, and a 24/7 emergency response system through Acute Psychiatric Services. CAPS is prepared to help students learn coping skills to manage their stress and refer them to more intensive programs when necessary. CAPS can be reached at (848) 932-7884, and Acute Psychiatric Services can be reached at (848) 932-2300. If your son or daughter receives any disciplinary action due to substance use, even of marijuana, we recommend getting them mental health treatment in order to address any underlying issues that lead to unhealthy use in the first place.

We understand most students are law-abiding adults that come to campus to earn a degree and have new experiences; however, it is very important to have a close relationship with a local defense lawyer. Many young students who go on to be positive, contributing members sometimes become involved with the criminal justice system; they just need a strong advocate who can defend them. Our law offices are located a short walk from campus. We frequently defend Rutgers students and offer resources to navigate these problems. If you ever receive that late-night call from your child needing advice, we would be ready and willing to fight for your young adult in the courtroom.