Hazing Lawyer in Philadelphia Providing Clients the Due Diligence They Deserve

Hazing is illegal and hazing injury and death is more common then one might think. Recently, a study found that the highest rates of hazing (74 percent) among members of varsity athletic teams and fraternities and sororities (73 percent). But rates also were high for participants in club sports (64 percent) and performing arts organizations (56 percent)

Pennsylvania anti-hazing law requires schools to have policies and procedures in place that prohibit, and provide for punishment of, hazing and to post those policies on the school’s website. Hazing can be bred as a felony in certain cases in Pennsylvania.

“Hazing” is defined as “intentionally, knowingly or recklessly” coercing or forcing a minor or student to do any of the following for the purposes of either admission to, or continuing or enhancing membership with, an “organization” (broadly defined to include any group at the school consisting primarily of minors, students or alumni, including fraternities):

• Violate federal or state criminal law
• Consume any food, drink, alcoholic liquid, drug or other substance that subjects the minor or student to a risk of emotional or physical harm
• Endure brutality of a physical nature, including whipping, beating, branding, calisthenics or exposure to the elements
• Endure brutality of a mental nature, including activity adversely affecting the mental health or dignity of the individual, sleep deprivation, exclusion from social contact or conduct that could result in extreme embarrassment
• Endure brutality of a sexual nature
• Endure any other activity that creates a reasonable likelihood of bodily injury to the minor or student

According to the experts at www.hazingprevention.org, the impacts of hazing can include, but are not limited to:

• Physical, emotional, and/or mental instability
• Sleep deprivation
• Loss of sense of control and empowerment
• A decline in grades and coursework
• Relationships with friends, significant others, and family suffer
• Post-traumatic stress syndrome
• Loss of respect for and interest in being part of the organization
• Erosion of trust within the group members
• Illness or hospitalization with additional effects on family and friends