There are certain traditions that are a part of every college campus, and while some of them do not make sense to parents and other adults, they are a part of the overall college experience. Staying up all night studying for exams, performing stunts or pulling practical jokes, and performing outlandish tasks to be a part of a fraternity or sorority were all common when we went to school, and continue on many college campuses today. Unfortunately, sometimes these stunts and rituals can get carried to extremes, resulting in injuries to those involved. Hazing is a hot topic on many high school and college campuses, and being involved in any way in one of these incidents can not only result in being expelled, but you could also face criminal charges. You will need a strong criminal defense if you are facing hazing charges. South Carolina is clear on dealing with hazing as a crime, and most schools now have zero tolerance policies when it comes to dealing with hazing incidents on college campuses.
What Is Hazing?
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Under Section 59-101-200 the South Carolina Code of Laws defines hazing as the striking or laying hands on a subordinate student by a student in a position of superiority. Hazing includes the threat to do violence or commit bodily harm on a subordinate student with the intent to punish or abuse, and includes behavior that can be construed as tyrannical, shaming, humiliating or insulting in some way. Hazing is typically a display of power, with the subordinate student being forced to put up with the abuse for the sake of being part of a cliché, club, or team. Hazing may include the following:
- Spanking, hitting, punching, or kicking new club members or recruits for alleged offenses or slights;
- Requiring students to eat or drink offensive or dangerous substances in order to join a club;
- Forcing students to behave in public in a way that is degrading or threatening to themselves or others; and
- Making students perform dangerous stunts or activities as a requirement to being part of a group.
Penalties for Hazing
Title 16 of the South Carolina Code of Laws deals with crimes and offenses committed against persons, and lists hazing alongside other crimes including assault, rape, and murder. Hazing is strictly prohibited by law on all state supported college campuses and educational institutions, including in fraternities, sororities, and all other organizations operating within the school or college. Not only is hazing a crime under state law, but it is also against the law to assist in hazing another in any way, even if all you did was fail to report it, and you can be charged with hazing even if the person you are accused of hazing actually consented to it. While hazing is a considered a misdemeanor crime, it carries heavy penalties, including fines and up to twelve months in jail.
Contact Our Experienced Criminal Defense Attorney Today
When you are facing criminal charges, you need a strong legal defense. To get the aggressive legal representation needed in these types of matters, contact our experienced South Carolina criminal defense attorney today. Greenville attorney Lauren M. Taylor of Lauren Taylor Law has experience handling a multitude of serious criminal matters, and can help strategize the best course of defense in your particular case. With offices in Greenville and through the Upstate, call or contact us online today for an initial consultation.
South Carolina divorce attorney Lauren Taylor practices family law in Charleston and Greenville. She graduated from the Charlotte School of Law, and has been practicing for more than ten years.
Since the firm’s inception in 2012, Mrs. Taylor has helped hundreds of people navigate the uncertainties surrounding the family and criminal court process.
She has cultivated a team that ensures each case has a strategy crafted specifically to the clients needs and desires.
Her commitment to top notch service has led her to open two additional offices in the low country where she now resides with her husband Michael and her golden retriever, Buster.