Is Hazing a Crime?

Considered a rite of passage for attaining membership or status in a fraternity, sorority, sports team, or other organization, hazing can present a serious risk of harm to individuals. In the most serious and tragic cases, individuals have died. Most states criminalize hazing, but the "tradition" persists.

What Is Hazing?

Hazing refers to an initiation process that requires a person to endure physical, emotional, mental, and social harm to prove themselves worthy of being a part of a group or to continue being part of the group. It's common on college and university campuses, as well as in high school, amateur, and professional sports teams. Hazing is firmly rooted in American culture to the point it's considered by many to be a positive form of group and social bonding—until the worst happens, and someone dies.

Hazing runs the gamut from humiliation and physical and emotional harassment to assault and violence. Conduct involved in hazing might include:

• paddlings, whippings, or beatings
• forced calisthenics or extreme physical activities
• forced consumption of food, liquids, alcohol, drugs, or other substances
• extended sleep deprivation or isolation
• abandonment or kidnappings, and
• harassment and humiliation tactics.

Student codes of conduct generally prohibit any hazing, even subtle hazing (like humiliation tactics). Criminal laws commonly target more egregious forms of hazing that could result in serious physical or mental harm.

What Is Criminal Hazing?

State laws use different definitions of criminal hazing, but many share the following components.

It's considered criminal hazing to willingly engage in conduct that recklessly:

• endangers another's physical, mental, or emotional health
• pressures another into violating the law or engaging in harmful and unwanted behavior, or
• coerces another to endure extreme mental stress, social humiliation, or activity that threatens one's health or dignity

for the purpose of initiating the person into their group or organization.

Many states limit the applicability of their anti-hazing statutes to conduct involving initiation or membership in college or university-sanctioned organizations, such as fraternities, sororities, sports teams, or other groups. Some extend their laws to hazing at high schools. And a few states prohibit hazing for membership into any organization or group.

State Approaches to Hazing Crimes

Many criminal hazing statutes attempt to fill gaps in the law where traditional crimes might not cover hazing conduct. For instance, states' anti-hazing laws often list prohibited conduct to include forced consumption of food and alcohol, extreme physical activities, sleep deprivation, and social humiliation. Many of these laws cover acts that are likely to result in mental or psychological harm, not just physical harm.

The scope of many anti-hazing crimes extends to acts committed by direct and indirect participants in hazings. For instance, hazing statutes often target any willful act that endangers others, such as a fraternity member who planned hazing activities, directed others to engage in hazing, or convinced pledges to agree to participate in dangerous or illegal activities. Organizations might also face criminal sanctions.

What Are the Criminal Penalties for Hazing?

Most states make hazing a misdemeanor, which carries the potential of jail time and fines. Several states impose felony penalties for hazing in instances where the person's acts created a substantial risk to another's life or caused serious injuries.

For instance, Wisconsin makes hazing a class G or H felony if a person's acts resulted in death or great bodily harm to another. Utah increases hazing penalties from misdemeanors to felonies if hazing resulted in serious bodily harm or involved a dangerous weapon. A felony conviction can mean possible prison time.

(Utah Code § 76-5-107.5; Wis. Stat. § 948.51 (2025).)

Is Consent a Defense to Hazing?

Many states with anti-hazing laws don't allow consent to be used as a defense. The rationale for eliminating this defense is based on the nature of hazing. The organization requires a person to agree to hazing to become a member, meaning consent isn't necessarily freely given. Hazing initiations also generally involve coercive environments that include peer pressure, unequal power dynamics, threats, and substance abuse.

Other Criminal Charges for Hazing Conduct

Direct participants in hazing can face even harsher criminal charges and penalties than those found in anti-hazing laws. Prosecutors could charge someone who personally hazed others with crimes such as harassment, stalking, assault, battery, unlawful confinement, sexual battery, reckless endangerment, or manslaughter. States also make it a crime to furnish alcohol to a minor and to coerce another to commit a crime. Crimes resulting in serious harm or even risk of serious harm generally carry felony penalties.

Assault and battery. A person could face assault or battery charges by intentionally or recklessly inflicting bodily harm on another or by placing someone in fear of immediate physical harm. Use of a dangerous instrument (like a paddle) could result in aggravated assault charges.

Sexual battery. Unwanted sexual contact by someone, such as grabbing their buttocks, breasts, or genitals, is one type of sexual battery.

Harassment and stalking. Harassment charges might come into play when a person intentionally annoys, torments, or threatens another and causes that person substantial emotional distress. Stalking often involves repeated actions that cause someone to fear for their safety.

Unlawful restraint. Intentionally holding someone against their will can lead to charges for unlawful restraint or false imprisonment.

Reckless endangerment. A person commits the crime of reckless endangerment by engaging in conduct that creates a substantial risk of death or serious bodily harm to another.

Manslaughter. Involuntary manslaughter is an unintentional killing that results from criminally negligent or reckless conduct.

Is There a Federal Anti-Hazing Law?

The federal anti-hazing law—the Stop Campus Hazing Act—requires reporting of hazing incidents in college and university annual security reports. Sponsors of the law wanted more and better information on hazing incidents and campus anti-hazing policies so students and parents could make informed decisions when picking a college. The law also requires universities to implement anti-hazing policies that include a process for reporting and investigating incidents.

Getting More Resources

If you or your child face hazing or related charges, contact a criminal defense attorney or ask for a public defender. Hazing charges are serious, and a lawyer will help you understand your rights and what's at stake. Victims of hazing may want to contact a personal injury lawyer to explore legal options and remedies.

Additional anti-hazing resources can be found at:

• HazingInfo.org
• StopHazing.org
• Being a Champion
• Clery Center
• Anti-Hazing Coalition
• Hazing Prevention Network
• The Athlete Helpline