Existing Louisiana State Hazing Law and Proposed Changes
Existing Louisiana State Hazing Law and Proposed Changes
Hazing is anything required of a member that is demeaning, destructive, causes risk, either mental or physical, to a specific group of members. In the Louisiana State Hazing Law R.S.17:1801 in PART III. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS, hazing is defined and penalties are set.
§1801. Hazing prohibited; penalties
Hazing in any form, or the use of any method of initiation into fraternal organizations in any educational institution supported wholly or in part by public funds, which is likely to cause bodily danger or physical punishment to any student or other person attending any such institution is prohibited.
Whoever violates the provisions of this Section shall be fined not less than ten dollars nor more than one hundred dollars, or imprisoned for not less than ten days nor more than thirty days, or both, and in addition, shall be expelled from the educational institution and not permitted to return during the current session or term in which the violation occurs.
In Louisiana state law, hazing is defined as a physical and mental crime and is classified as a misdemeanor. Some of the language in the statue is rather vague and ambiguous, thereby granting an easier defense for the accused. Louisiana’s statue prohibits behavior that could “reasonably be expected to result in great bodily harm.” The wording in Louisiana’s law makes it probable that hazing would be more challenging to concretely prove. Students who are being charged with hazing crimes are increasingly relying on this defense. In my opinion, I feel that Louisiana hazing law should be defined more in depth with more stringent enforcement and penalties, as found in the laws of other states, such as Texas, Indiana, California, and Washington.
Due to the vague and ambiguous language used to define hazing, an accused person could argue that certain terminology in the hazing law is not well-defined. First, Louisiana Hazing Law, should define exactly
Hazing is anything required of a member that is demeaning, destructive, causes risk, either mental or physical, to a specific group of members. In the Louisiana State Hazing Law R.S.17:1801 in PART III. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS, hazing is defined and penalties are set.
§1801. Hazing prohibited; penalties
Hazing in any form, or the use of any method of initiation into fraternal organizations in any educational institution supported wholly or in part by public funds, which is likely to cause bodily danger or physical punishment to any student or other person attending any such institution is prohibited.
Whoever violates the provisions of this Section shall be fined not less than ten dollars nor more than one hundred dollars, or imprisoned for not less than ten days nor more than thirty days, or both, and in addition, shall be expelled from the educational institution and not permitted to return during the current session or term in which the violation occurs.
In Louisiana state law, hazing is defined as a physical and mental crime and is classified as a misdemeanor. Some of the language in the statue is rather vague and ambiguous, thereby granting an easier defense for the accused. Louisiana’s statue prohibits behavior that could “reasonably be expected to result in great bodily harm.” The wording in Louisiana’s law makes it probable that hazing would be more challenging to concretely prove. Students who are being charged with hazing crimes are increasingly relying on this defense. In my opinion, I feel that Louisiana hazing law should be defined more in depth with more stringent enforcement and penalties, as found in the laws of other states, such as Texas, Indiana, California, and Washington.
Due to the vague and ambiguous language used to define hazing, an accused person could argue that certain terminology in the hazing law is not well-defined. First, Louisiana Hazing Law, should define exactly