In many sports teams, fraternities, colleges, and high schools people frequently engage in bonding exercises. In an effort to create a sense of community, certain activities and requirements force people to come together. However, the crime of hazing, which are infamous in many fraternities and sororities, can also be quite dangerous. Whether you have seen it in movies or heard about it in the news, hazing can be a controversial thing to speak about. Many people defend hazing as a necessary way to create a bond; however, people also argue that the dangers (great injury or death) overshadow any benefits. In California, Penal Code 245.6 PC makes hazing an illegal act.
Many people don’t know that hazing is illegal as well as prohibited on-campus. If someone is charged with this crime, the prosecution must prove several elements. There are three key elements that must be proven: the accused must have been involved in an activity that was necessary to initiate a student into some sort of student body, it was reasonable to assume that the activity in question would lead to serious bodily injury and that the activity was not a school-sanctioned activity or requirement.
This article provides only a brief summary of this crime. Hazing is controversial and many individuals (mostly young adults) are not aware of their actions in the circumstances. Regardless, if found guilty of hazing, the accused faces either a misdemeanor or a felony. In the case of a misdemeanor, the convicted individual faces up to one year in county jail and can also be required to pay a fine. However, if an individual is convicted of a felony, they can then spend up to three years in county jail and also pay a fine. Given the complexity of hazing cases, it is imperative that individuals speak with an experienced criminal attorney.
