Tim Powers
Law Offices of Tim Powers, Denton, Texas
940.483.8000
For years now, hazing has been a big issue here in the United States. According tostophazing.org, more than half of college students involved in clubs, teams and organizations experience hazing. Statistics also show that 47% of students have experiencedhazing prior to coming to college. Stophazing.org also states that alcohol consumption, humiliation, isolation, sleep-deprivation, and sex acts are some of the most common forms of hazing.
In previous blogs, we have talked about how hazing could lead to sexual assault. Today, I would like to talk about the bigger picture, hazing leading to death.
Recently on the news, a former Florida A&M University band member was sentenced to more than six years for organizing a hazing incident. Dante Martin was charged for hazing drum major Robert Champion Jr. According toCNN, Martin was found guilty of manslaughter and felony hazing. He was one out of 15 students involved in the incident.
So why participate in hazing if it is against the law? According to Texas Hazing Laws, hazing is any "intentional, knowing, or reckless act, occurring on or off the campus of an educational institution, by one person alone or acting with others, directed against a student, that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of pledging, being initiated into, affiliating with, holding office in, or maintaining membership in an organization."
Ultimately, it is up to the school campus to ensure the safety of its students. Texas' strict hazing laws make it easier to reduce the amount of hazing. It would be a lie to say absolutely no hazing exists; however, the schools do a pretty good job at enforcing the law and holding students responsible. If caught participating in such event, one can be subjected to facing charges. In Texas, if you know about a hazing incident and you fail to report it, you will be charged with a Class B misdemeanor which is confinement in jail for a term not to exceed 180 days and a possible fine not exceeding $2,000. If caught hazing without causing "serious bodily injury" to a person, you will also be charged with a Class B misdemeanor as well. Anyone caught participating in hazing that leads to "serious bodily injury" will be charged with a Class A misdemeanor which is confinement in jail for a term not to exceed one year and a fine not to exceed $4,000. And hazing involving death will lead to more serious penalties.
http://stophazing.tamu.edu/rules-and-laws/texas-law
http://www.cnn.com/2015/01/12/us/florida-famu-hazing/index.html
Image courtesy of http://studentaffairs.ku.edu/sites/studentaffairs.drupal.ku.edu/files/images/general/headers/hazing_prevent.jpg.
If you are seeking aggressive criminal representation by an experienced criminal defense attorney for your Denton County criminal case or arrest in Denton County, contact the offices of Tim Powers today. There is no charge or obligation for the initial consultation. 940.483.8000
*Tim Powers is an attorney licensed to practice law by the Supreme Court of Texas. Nothing in this article is intended to be legal advice. For legal advice about any specific legal question you should directly consult an attorney. Criminal Defense Lawyers with Unparalleled Passion for Success Providing Quality Representation for your Denton, Lewisville, Flower Mound, Carrollton, Corinth, Highland Village Dallas, Plano, McKinney, Denton County, Tarrant County, Collin County, or Dallas County criminal case