University of Tampa Student Arrested or Charged?

Are you a University of Tampa student who was arrested, cited or questioned by police, or the parent of one? Attorney Ron Frey helps UT students from Tampa, from across Florida and from out of state when something on campus, downtown or at a party turns into a criminal matter. Attorney Ron Frey has been practicing law for over two decades. He is licensed in Florida, Ohio and North Carolina and admitted to the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida and the U.S. Supreme Court. He has also taught as an adjunct professor, with courses in computers and the law, criminal law, criminal procedure and constitutional law.

An accusation is not a conviction, and a student doesn’t have to sort it out alone. If you face any stop, search, seizure, inquiry, investigation, arrest or target letter, contact a lawyer. Call or text (813) 775-2276 for a free, confidential initial consultation by phone, video or in person. Students, parents or a friend or family member can talk with Attorney Ron Frey by phone or video, even from out of state.

Facts About the University of Tampa

• The University of Tampa is a private, residential university on a riverfront campus in downtown Tampa, home to Plant Hall and its well-known minarets.
• UT has its own Campus Safety department, and UT says officers from the Tampa Police Department and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office may also enforce laws on campus.
• UT’s Student Code of Conduct can apply to behavior on or off campus, and the school’s conduct process is separate from any criminal case. It can move on its own timeline.
• UT has said students may consult with a lawyer, though its rules limit a lawyer’s role in conduct meetings.

University policies, procedures and campus safety arrangements change over time. Check UT’s current official policies, and have your situation reviewed by a lawyer rather than relying on this page, the internet or AI.

Who May Be Involved

Depending on where something happened, different people and agencies may be involved:

• UT Campus Safety may be the first to respond on campus, and its reports and video can matter later.
• The Tampa Police Department handles many incidents in and around campus. See Tampa Police arrests.
• The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office runs the Orient Road Jail, where many arrests in the county are booked. See Hillsborough County Sheriff arrests.
• UT’s student conduct office runs the separate school process.
• Other agencies, including federal ones, may be involved depending on what’s alleged.

Which agency acts, and which court a case lands in, depends on the facts. That should be reviewed with a lawyer, not guessed at.

Common Issues for UT Students

UT students may face allegations such as:

• Underage drinking or fake IDs
• Disorderly conduct, including at off-campus parties
• Drug charges, including marijuana, vapes and pills
• DUI
• Fights, assault or battery
• Theft or shoplifting
• Resisting an officer
• Weapons charges
• Computer and internet issues, such as account access, threats or images sent online
• Arrests during Gasparilla or in downtown, SoHo or Ybor City nightlife areas

How each one is handled depends on the facts, the evidence and the agencies involved. Many students facing these allegations have never been arrested before. See first-time offenders.

Courts, and the Separate Student Conduct Process

A criminal case involving a UT student may end up in a Florida state court in Hillsborough County, in federal court, or elsewhere, depending on the facts. Many Hillsborough cases are heard downtown at the Edgecomb Courthouse or the Courthouse Annex. Learn more about federal offenses.

The university’s student conduct process is separate from the criminal court and can move on its own timeline. A school outcome doesn’t decide the criminal case, but what a student says in one process can matter in the other. That’s one reason to talk with a lawyer before any school meeting.

What to Expect, Including for Out-of-State Students and Parents

After an incident, a student may be held while officers sort out what happened. Some people are released with a warning or a notice to appear, and others are taken to jail for booking. A person who stays in custody generally sees a judge at first appearance, where release conditions such as bond are addressed. See also what to do if a family member is arrested in Tampa.

Out-of-state students and their parents have more to think about, such as release conditions, court dates in Tampa during breaks or after graduation, and the school process running at the same time. Parents or a friend or family member can call Attorney Ron Frey on a student’s behalf, and a lawyer may be able to handle many steps without the student traveling. Don’t ignore court paperwork just because you’ve gone home for the summer.

Every Situation Needs Its Own Review

Laws, regulations and procedures change, and small facts can make a big difference. Each situation has to be evaluated case by case under current laws and regulations, with a response tailored to it, not what the internet or AI tells you. Attorney Ron Frey looks at the whole record: how any stop, detention or search was done, whether a room or phone search was lawful, what reports and video exist, and what witnesses actually saw. Every case is different. Prosecutors still have to prove each charge with admissible evidence.

Attorney Ron Frey’s office is at 625 E. Twiggs St. in downtown Tampa, a short trip from the University of Tampa. If you, your son or daughter, or a friend or family member at UT was stopped, cited or arrested, call or text (813) 775-2276 for a free, confidential initial consultation by phone, video or in person.

Related: College student defense in Hillsborough County · College student criminal defense · USF Police arrests · Arrested at Gasparilla · City of Tampa criminal defense · Traffic stops in Tampa