FAQ
Short answers for the questions people ask in the first days. Each links deeper into the free chapters.
I just got a letter. What do I do tonight?
Start with the free first-48-hours checklist: preserve the notice and mark deadlines, save the policies it names, do not contact the complainant, preserve records and delete nothing, do not explain yourself or post, sleep and tell one person. If police have contacted you, stop and get a criminal defense lawyer before any interview. Read more.
Is a notice the same as a finding that I did it?
No. A notice tells you a process has started. It identifies rules, alleged conduct, and next steps. Read it as a commitment that can be checked — not as a verdict. Read more.
Why shouldn’t I just explain myself to the detective or the office?
Police and campus statements can travel between tracks. What you tell police can end up in a Title IX file; what you say to a Title IX investigator or write in a campus response can reach police or prosecutors. Talk to a criminal defense lawyer before you speak to either. Read more.
The Title IX complaint was dismissed. Is it over?
Not necessarily. A Title IX dismissal is about which federal procedures apply. The same conduct can often continue under another campus policy. Read the next paragraph or letter carefully. Read more.
What does “not established” mean?
It means the decision-maker did not find the necessary elements proved under the governing standard. It does not automatically prove the contrary, and it does not by itself prove deliberate fabrication. Use the exact outcome language and its current status. Read more.
Can my partner or parents help?
Yes — carefully. Tell one safe person what you are facing, not a detailed account of the events. Chapter 26 is written for friends and others who want to help without making it worse. Conversations with family are not automatically privileged. Read more.
Is this legal advice?
No. The site and book give general information about how these processes often work. Rules vary by institution, state, and date. Confirm every deadline and step with a lawyer licensed where you are who knows your facts. Read more.
Not legal advice. These answers describe general patterns from the book’s free material.