Contact Us Today406-319-3024
Contact Us Today406-319-3024
Crime is prosecuted harshly under Montana law. If you’re facing criminal charges as a college student in Billings, it’s important to understand your rights and legal options as you navigate this situation. The good news is you don’t have to do everything on your own. Instead, you can turn to a Billings college student crime lawyer.
Every case is unique. Having a legal professional on your side can help you understand your options. Mountain & Valley Law Firm has been representing Montana students in criminal cases for years. We’re familiar with state criminal laws and college student crime penalties specifically.
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College students can be both victims and offenders in criminal cases. The consequences of college student crimes ultimately depend on the nature of the offense as well as the student’s age and criminal record. It’s recommended that you hire a college student crime lawyer who understands the nuances of privacy laws, civil rights laws, and criminal laws in Montana.
There are a handful of higher education institutions located in and around Billings. Our Billings college student crime attorneys have extensive experience working with local colleges and universities in the area, including:
MSUB and Rocky Mountain College are the two primary institutions that offer comprehensive higher education options in Billings. MSUB is a public university that is known for its affordable tuition, small class sizes, and diverse extracurricular programs.
In the fall of 2024, MSUB’s undergraduate enrollment was 3,881. That year, only six percent of students lived in college-owned, operated, or affiliated housing. The majority of students at MSUB live off campus. Crimes can occur in and around the university campus at any time. In a single week in 2025, damage to property, larceny, and trespassing were all reported crimes.
In addition to local and state law enforcement, MSUB has its own University Police Department that responds to on-campus crimes. In a single year, MSUB reported the following crimes over a three-year period:
RMC is a smaller private liberal arts college located in Billings. It’s the oldest institution of higher education in the state of Montana. Due to its smaller size, RMC is typically not the center point for crime in Billings. That said, there have been a number of isolated incidents involving RMC students in recent years. For example, two teenagers were arrested in 2023 for the fatal shooting of a freshman at RCM. The gun was discharged at a house party near campus.
If your child is facing charges for a crime they committed while away at school, it’s helpful to have local representation on hand that can help with their defense. Our skilled attorneys at Mountain & Valley Law Firm have experience representing Montana students through complex criminal cases.
Our firm was founded on the military values of service, diligence, and integrity. Our founding attorney is a United States Army veteran, and we carry those values with us in the work we do today. Beyond representing our clients in and out of court, our team stays involved with the community through our work with the Economic Vitality Board and local churches and nonprofit organizations. We’re committed to helping our clients and neighbors throughout the Big Sky State.
The most common types of college student crimes committed in Billings typically include alcohol- and drug-related violations, assault, disorderly conduct, and property crimes. Our Billings college student crime attorneys at Mountain & Valley Law Firm have experience representing students in a wide range of criminal cases, including:
The college student crime penalties you may face ultimately depend on the nature of the charges against you.
Multiple courts can oversee college student criminal cases in Billings, depending on the nature and scope of the crime. The Billings Municipal Court or Yellowstone County Justice Court may handle minor offenses, while the 13th Judicial District Court covers felonies.
It’s also possible to face consequences through internal campus agencies like the MSUB University Police Department. If your child is under the age of 18, the Montana Youth Court system may handle the case instead.
The college student crime penalties you can face in Billings may vary depending on the details of the incident as well as the student’s age and criminal history. College students can expect to face automatic disciplinary action from the college or university, such as disciplinary probation, loss of housing, or suspension or expulsion.
Additionally, they can be subject to standard state criminal penalties. Consequences under Montana law can include:
Yes, your child can go to jail for a crime committed as a college student in Billings. The legal age of majority in Montana is 18, which means most students at a higher education institution can be tried as adults in a court of law.
Whether or not an offender is sentenced to time in jail or prison depends on the severity of the crime and the specific details of the situation.
If you’re ready to discuss your situation in more detail, you can turn to a Billings college student crime attorney from Mountain & Valley Law Firm. Call the office to schedule a consultation with a trusted attorney today. Our office is near I-90, making us an easy stop for our clients throughout southern Montana.
Contact Mountain & Valley Law Firm to discuss our available representation.
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