Process of a Westport Title IX Investigation
Learning that you have a Title IX complaint pending against you can be an unsettling experience, no matter what circumstances led to that complaint being filed. However, it is vital for you, as a respondent in a Title IX case, to be as calm and proactive as possible from the moment that the case begins and right through to its eventual conclusion. Everything you say and do in the interim could have a significant impact on your academic and professional future.
Seeking help from a skilled legal representative who is able to guide you through every step of the way, is usually a key first step to handling a Title IX case effectively as a respondent. It is also important to have a basic understanding of how the case will develop and what you can expect your school to do while investigating the accusation(s) against you. Here is a basic overview of the process of a Westport Title IX investigation.
Formal Title IX Complaint and Notice of Investigation
Contrary to what some people might assume, the investigation process does not begin the moment someone goes to their school’s Title IX Coordinator and speaks with them or one of their subordinates about an alleged violation of their Title IX rights. Instead, as a Westport attorney may explain, the Coordinator only opens an investigation once a complainant has filed a formal Title IX complaint and the Coordinator has notified the respondent named in the complaint in writing about the impending investigation.
What Supportive Measures Are Provided?
As part of the process of initiating a Title IX investigation, your school in Westport may provide some supportive measures to the complainant involved in the case to minimize disruption to their academic career while the investigation is ongoing. Unfortunately, some of these supportive measures could negatively impact the respondent’s academic career—for example, a requirement to move out of on-campus housing, or restrictions on which classes they can attend in specific school buildings.
Interviews, Records, and Circumstantial Evidence
In Westport, the Title IX investigation process primarily focuses on interviews with the complainant, the respondent, anyone who may have witnessed different parts of an alleged Title IX offense, and people who could testify about contributing factors. However, this part of the process could also involve investigators seeking phone records, photos, videos, and even social media posts about an alleged offense, all of which is subjective evidence that a lawyer may be able to contest.
Disciplinary Hearing and Sanctions
The time to contest evidence gathered during a Title IX investigation in Westport is during the disciplinary hearing, which your school will schedule after the inquiry concludes. This final stage of the Title IX process generally allows both sides to make statements about what happened and present evidence to support their version of events. It is important to note that each school may have slightly different rules for these hearings.
Contact a Westport Attorney Today for Title IX Investigation Guidance
No two Title IX cases are exactly alike, and each school may have different procedures for how it conducts Title IX investigations and how those inquiries are formally concluded. The process of a Westport Title IX investigation generally follows the pattern laid out above.
Our attorneys are available to help you with every part of the Title IX case process. They are dedicated legal professionals with long track records of case success. Call Mark Sherman Law today for a consultation, or click here to read verified reviews from past clients on our Avvo.com profile.