Davenport University's W.A. Lettinga campus has a Grand Rapids mailing address, and that address misleads a lot of people. The campus, on Kraft Avenue SE, is actually in Caledonia Township — not Grand Rapids and not Kentwood — and that decides which police agency handles an incident and which court hears the case. Some online guides get this wrong.
I'm Shawn Haff, a criminal defense attorney in Wyoming, Michigan, and I represent Davenport students — and the parents who call me at 2 a.m. — in the 63rd District Court and the Kent County Circuit Court. The first call is free and I answer it myself, 24/7: 616-438-6719.
Who Makes Arrests at Davenport
Davenport's Public Safety officers are not police officers. The university says plainly that they are not empowered with arrest authority by the state, and its security report states that Davenport has no formal agreement with any law enforcement agency. When a crime is reported on the Lettinga campus, the outside agency is the Kent County Sheriff's Office. So a party in the Panther Woods apartments or a fight in a residence hall is a sheriff's case, and a traffic stop on a state highway may be a Michigan State Police case.
Where a Davenport Student's Case Is Heard
Because the campus is in Caledonia Township, misdemeanors and felony arraignments go to the 63rd District Court at 1950 E Beltline Ave NE in Grand Rapids — which covers Kent County outside the cities that have their own courts. Felonies are tried at the 17th Circuit Court, 180 Ottawa Ave NW. A case from off campus in Kentwood or Grand Rapids would go to those cities' courts instead, so check the citation.
The Second Case: Davenport's Student Code of Conduct
Davenport's Student Code of Conduct is handled through Student Affairs and Campus Life. It applies to off-campus conduct that is criminal or inconsistent with the university's values, and it allows an interim suspension while a matter is pending. Its alcohol rule is unusual: alcohol is banned on university property regardless of age, except that students 21 and over may drink privately in the Panther Woods and Panther Ridge apartments. That exception does not extend to South Hall, Cook or Meijer halls, or to guests under 21. Title IX matters go to Davenport's Title IX Coordinator.
I could not find a published medical-amnesty policy in Davenport's Student Code of Conduct. Michigan law still protects a minor who seeks medical help for themselves or a friend from an MIP charge — but the university process may not offer the same protection, which makes it more important to get advice before speaking to anyone about an alcohol incident.
The Charges I See Most From Davenport
Davenport students are heading into business, accounting, health and technology careers, where a background check is part of the hiring process. That makes the type of charge matter as much as the sentence.
- Minor in possession, including charges from apartment gatherings where the 21-and-over exception does not apply
- Embezzlement and employee theft allegations from internships and part-time jobs
- Retail fraud — a crime of dishonesty, which is what accounting and finance employers screen for
- OWI, including zero-tolerance charges for drivers under 21
- Marijuana and prescription stimulant possession
- Furnishing alcohol to a minor, for 21-year-olds hosting in the apartments
- Assault and dating violence allegations
Michigan Law Every Davenport Student Should Know
These are the Michigan statutes behind most student charges. For Davenport students of legal drinking age, pay particular attention to the furnishing row — the apartment exception makes it a live risk.
| Charge | Statute | What it actually means |
|---|---|---|
| Minor in possession — 1st | MCL 436.1703 | A state civil infraction, not a crime: fine up to $100. "Possession" includes having consumed — a breath result of 0.02 or more, or any presence of alcohol. |
| Minor in possession — 2nd / 3rd | MCL 436.1703 | Misdemeanors, with fines up to $200 and $500. Jail (up to 30 / 60 days) only if you violate probation, skip treatment or screening, or do not pay. A second offense can be deferred once in a lifetime. |
| Calling for medical help | MCL 436.1703(9) | Not an MIP violation: a minor who seeks medical help for themselves or a friend, or who accompanies them, cannot be charged with MIP for it. |
| Fake ID | MCL 436.1703(2); MCL 257.324 | Using a fraudulent ID to buy alcohol is a misdemeanor (up to 93 days). A conviction for possessing or displaying a fake or borrowed license also brings a mandatory Secretary of State suspension — 90 days, or one year with a prior. |
| Marijuana under 21 | MCL 333.27965 | Up to 2.5 oz is a civil infraction: up to $100 the first time, up to $500 the second. Legal at 21 under state law — but not necessarily under your school's rules. |
| Zero-tolerance OWI (under 21) | MCL 257.625(6) | Driving with a BAC of 0.02 or more, or any presence of alcohol. A misdemeanor: up to 360 hours of community service and/or a $250 fine, plus license sanctions. At 0.08, it is an ordinary OWI. |
| Retail fraud, 3rd degree | MCL 750.356d | Under $200: a misdemeanor, up to 93 days and a fine of $500 or three times the value. It is a crime of dishonesty — what licensing boards and employers look for. |
| Furnishing alcohol to a minor | MCL 436.1701 | The 21-year-old hosting the party: a misdemeanor, up to 60 days and $1,000 for a first offense — and far more if someone is badly hurt. |
| HYTA | MCL 762.11 | For offenses committed from 18 to before 26: plead without a conviction being entered; complete supervision and the case is dismissed and closed to the public. Prosecutor consent needed from 21. Not available for OWI or other traffic offenses. |
| Setting aside a conviction | MCL 780.621 | Most misdemeanors can be set aside three years after sentence. A deferred-and-dismissed MIP still counts toward eligibility, so it is not "free". |
What to Do in the First 48 Hours
- Check the court on the citation. A Lettinga campus case belongs in the 63rd District Court, not Kentwood's 62-B.
- Do not explain things to Public Safety or deputies. Public Safety reports go to the Sheriff and to the conduct process.
- If you are 21 and hosted, do not discuss who brought what or who was underage — that is the evidence in a furnishing case.
- Tell me about your career path — CPA, finance, nursing, IT security — so the defense targets the outcome that protects it.
- Call before the first court date.
For how the juvenile court, HYTA and campus discipline fit together for every age group, see my teen and college student defense guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which court hears a Davenport University case?
For incidents on the W.A. Lettinga campus, the 63rd District Court at 1950 E Beltline Ave NE, Grand Rapids, because the campus is in Caledonia Township. Felonies go to the 17th Circuit Court at 180 Ottawa Ave NW. Despite the campus's Grand Rapids mailing address, it is not in Kentwood, so the 62-B District Court does not hear its cases.
Can Davenport Public Safety arrest me?
No. Davenport's Public Safety officers are not empowered with arrest authority by the state. Criminal matters on the Lettinga campus are handled by the Kent County Sheriff's Office, with the Michigan State Police on the highways.
I am 21 and live in Panther Woods. Can I drink in my apartment?
Under Davenport's code, students 21 and over may drink privately in the Panther Woods and Panther Ridge apartments; alcohol is otherwise banned on university property regardless of age. But providing alcohol to anyone under 21 — including a roommate or a guest — is a crime under Michigan law, carrying up to 60 days in jail and a $1,000 fine for a first offense.
Will a retail fraud charge affect an accounting career?
It can. Retail fraud is a theft offense and a crime of dishonesty, which is exactly what licensing boards and financial employers look for. The goal in these cases is usually no conviction at all — through HYTA for eligible students under 26, a deferral, or a dismissal — and that has to be pursued before any plea.
Talk to a Davenport Student Defense Lawyer Today
The criminal case and the school case both start moving within days, and the choices made in that first week are the hardest to undo. Call me directly at 616-438-6719 for a free, confidential consultation — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.