Hope College sits in the middle of downtown Holland, and that shapes everything about a Hope student's criminal case. The court is a few blocks down 8th Street. The police are the city's, not the college's. And the college's own rules on alcohol are stricter than Michigan law — so a Hope student can be in trouble with the school over conduct that is perfectly legal, and in trouble with both over conduct that is not.
I'm Shawn Haff, a criminal defense attorney in Wyoming, Michigan, and I represent Hope College students — and the parents who call me at 2 a.m. — in the 58th District Court in Holland and the 20th Circuit Court in Grand Haven. The first call is free and I answer it myself, 24/7: 616-438-6719.
Who Makes Arrests at Hope College
Hope's Campus Safety officers are not police. By the college's own description they do not have arrest powers and do not enforce state law. That job belongs to the Holland Department of Public Safety, which enforces state law and city ordinances on campus, investigates drug cases there, and assigns a community policing officer to the college. So when Campus Safety calls about a party, a room search turns up something, or an RA reports a smell, it is Holland police who write the ticket or make the arrest.
Where a Hope College Student's Case Is Heard
A Holland misdemeanor goes to the 58th District Court at 85 W 8th St, Holland — a few blocks from campus. Felonies are bound over to the 20th Circuit Court at 414 Washington Ave in Grand Haven. Ottawa County's prosecutors take first offenses seriously, but they also have real diversion options, and what the file looks like at the first hearing decides a great deal.
The Second Case: Hope's Student Behavior Policies
Hope's Student Behavior Policies, in the Student Handbook, are administered through the Office of Student Formation under the Dean of Students. Section 1.1 bans alcohol in college housing, college vehicles and unapproved events regardless of age — a 22-year-old senior can violate it. Section 18, the Good Neighbor Policy, expressly applies to students living off campus, so an off-campus party that brings Holland police to the door can become a college matter too. The college can impose an interim suspension while a matter is pending, and for students under 21 it may notify parents after an alcohol or drug incident. Sexual misconduct allegations go to the Title IX Coordinator.
Hope does have a medical amnesty policy in Section 1.5: a student who seeks help for themselves or a friend will not face formal conduct charges for it, though parents may be notified. Michigan law adds its own protection against an MIP charge for a minor who seeks medical help. Use them. But do not assume a meeting with a dean is informal — anything you write or say there can end up in front of a prosecutor, and I would rather see it first.
The Charges I See Most From Hope College
Hope students' charges mostly start within walking distance of campus — downtown Holland's bars and restaurants, the rental houses around the college, and, in spring, the crowds of Tulip Time.
- Minor in possession and MIP by consumption from house parties and downtown
- Fake ID charges from downtown Holland bars, with their mandatory license suspension
- OWI, including zero-tolerance charges for drivers under 21
- Marijuana and prescription stimulant possession found in a room or a car
- Disorderly conduct and open intoxicant tickets
- Retail fraud
- Sexual misconduct allegations, where the Title IX case and the criminal case must be handled together
Michigan Law Every Hope College Student Should Know
These are the Michigan statutes behind most charges against Hope students. Remember that Hope's own rules are stricter than several of them — the table tells you what the court can do, not what the college can.
| 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
- Say nothing to Campus Safety or Holland police beyond identifying yourself. Campus Safety reports go to the police and to the college.
- Do not sign a written account for the Office of Student Formation until a lawyer has seen the situation.
- Tell your parents early — for under-21 students, the college may do it for you.
- Keep the paperwork: the citation, any bond conditions, and every email from the college with its deadlines.
- Call before the first court date at the 58th District Court. First-offense options are strongest at the beginning.
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
Can Hope Campus Safety arrest me?
No. Hope's Campus Safety officers do not have arrest powers and do not enforce state law. Arrests and criminal tickets on campus come from the Holland Department of Public Safety, which enforces state law and city ordinances there. Campus Safety reports can still be shared with Holland police and used in the college conduct process.
Where is a Hope College student's case heard?
Misdemeanors from Holland are heard at the 58th District Court, 85 W 8th St, Holland — a short walk from campus. Felonies are bound over to the 20th Circuit Court, 414 Washington Ave, Grand Haven.
I am over 21. Can Hope still discipline me for drinking?
Yes. Hope's alcohol policy bans alcohol in college housing, college vehicles and at unapproved events regardless of age, and its Good Neighbor Policy applies to students living off campus. Conduct that is legal under Michigan law can still be a college violation.
Will my parents be told?
They may be. Hope's policies allow parent notification after alcohol or drug incidents for students under 21, including when a student uses the medical amnesty policy. A criminal case itself is a public court record regardless of age.
Talk to a Hope College 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.