High school students like to reinvent themselves from year to year – sometimes even more often. They are looking for a fresh start and to connect with new friends while preserving older friendships. Basically, high school students want to feel accepted by their classmates and teachers. As such, many of these students will do whatever it takes to fit in, like joining student organizations. Often, getting into, or remaining a member of, a student organization can require engaging in behavior that may be considered hazing by their school administration.
For instance, new recruits to the school's football team may be required to prank the administration before fully integrating into the team's social life. When caught, the football team can be accused of hazing, impacting the players' game schedule, school life, and scholarship opportunities. These consequences, no matter how benign they sound, can have a lasting impact on the student's entire future, from the college they go to, to the careers they can pursue.
If your student is accused of hazing by their high school, it can be incredibly overwhelming for the entire family. To ensure your child is not subjected to unnecessary punishments, including suspension or expulsion, it is important to hire an experienced student defense attorney.
The LLF Law Firm Student Defense Team has ample experience helping students in similar situations. They will work diligently to help you and your family navigate these proceedings, ensuring your child gets the best possible outcome for their case. Call 888-535-3686 today or schedule your consultation online. Our attorneys are here to help.
What is Hazing?
The exact definition of hazing will differ from state to state and school to school. For instance, in California, hazing is defined as:
- any method of initiation or preinitiation into a student organization or student body,
- that is probably going to cause serious bodily injury
- to any past, current, or future student of any school in California.
Alternatively, in Maryland, the legislation defines hazing as:
- recklessly or intentionally
- committing an act or creating a situation
- that subjects a student to the risk of serious bodily injury
- for the purpose of initiating them into a student organization.
In Arkansas, hazing is defined as a deliberate action by a student, alumni, volunteer, or employee of a fraternal organization, when they are working in the name of the fraternal organization, alone or with others, committed against another student:
- to intimidate or threaten them with being ostracized, shamed, disgraced, or humiliated.
- to abusively or aggressively trick, frighten, or scare them.
- to humble their pride, stifle their ambition, or impair their courage to discourage them from remaining at the school or to reasonably cause them to leave the school rather than to submit to the acts.
- or that physically hurts them, such as striking, beating, bruising, or maiming them, or threatening or attempting to physically harm them in such a way, or assaulting them to produce such results or actions.
As you can see, the definitions change greatly from state to state. However, most states and schools agree that a student's implied or express consent to being hazed is not a defense for the student accused of hazing. They also almost all agree that customary athletic events or similar contests or competitions do not fall under the definition of hazing.
Hazing in High Schools
As explained above, schools will have different definitions of hazing. For example, at the San Francisco International High School follows the California Education Code, which is a series of laws that all local school boards must follow. Under this code, hazing is described as:
- an act that is likely to cause serious bodily injury, degradation, or disgrace,
- that does result in physical or mental harm,
- and is done for the purpose of becoming a member of a student organization or body.
Once the school is made aware of a hazing accusation, the Coordinate Care Team will inform the student's family and schedule a meeting to review the disciplinary process. During this meeting, the Coordinate Care Team will collaborate with the student's teachers, families, and all of the students involved in the incident to determine appropriate supports or interventions to implement. The support or intervention plan will be in place for at least 4-6 weeks. Then, at the end of that period, the Coordinated Care Team will review the plan and decide if it should be maintained, modified, or phased out.
This school also follows a specific matrix to determine the appropriate support or intervention based on whether it is the student's first, second, or third offense. For instance, for a first offense, a student accused of hazing could be enrolled in positive afterschool activities, required to participate in a Restorative Practices Conference with the affected student or staff member, or have their environment modified in some way to limit triggers. However, a student accused of a third offense may be required to enroll in counseling or to follow a behavior support plan.
Additionally, if a student at the San Francisco International High School goes through all of these interventions and continues to supposedly violate the school's code of conduct, or if the alleged hazing incident rose to a certain level of danger, the school does have the right to suspend or expel the student. This is why working with a student defense attorney is so important. The LLF Law Firm Student Defense Team will ensure you understand these somewhat unique proceedings, protecting your child from being punished without the chance to defend themselves properly.
Similarly, at Baker High School in Baker City, Oregon, students and teachers are encouraged to report any knowledge of hazing to the administration. Once this report is made, the school will conduct a preliminary investigation. This preliminary investigation usually consists of a designated school representative or committee contacting the complainant, victim, and student accused of hazing. The school will notify all parties of the allegations and have them explain their side of the story.
After this preliminary investigation, the school will decide if there is any credence to the complaint. That is, could the alleged student have hazed someone in the way the complaint alleges? If the school believes the complaint is inaccurate, they will drop it. However, if they believe it could be true, they will pursue a more in-depth investigation and schedule a formal hearing.
This school, like the San Francisco International School, also uses a discipline matrix to determine what kinds of punishments to impose on a Baker High School student accused of hazing. For instance, if the hazing involved abusing the parking lot in some way, the student could be suspended for two weeks from using the parking lot. However, if the incident involved explosive devices, firearms, or setting a fire, the student will be expelled and could also be referred to local law enforcement.
Generally, during disciplinary action, the accused student has every right to have an attorney at their side, guiding them through the procedures. For instance, at Forest Hills Public School in Grand Rapids, Michigan, students accused of hazing will be notified by the Superintendent of their right to an attorney or another adult advocate at their child's hearing. Taking the school up on this allowance is important because navigating the disciplinary process alone can be quite difficult, especially if your school's disciplinary procedures are not readily available. Your student defense attorney will contact the school on your behalf, reviewing relevant policies and ensuring you are not being punished unnecessarily.
Moreover, your student defense attorney will make sure you have a strategic defense that includes evidence and witness testimony to support it.
Appeals for Hazing Accusations in High School
The appeals process is mostly the same from school to school. However, the exact instructions will differ. For example, at Sandusky Senior High School in Sandusky, Michigan, students can only appeal suspension and expulsion punishments, but they cannot appeal their removal from the school if it's only for one day. At Central Falls High Schoolin Central Falls, Rhode Island, if a student wants to appeal a decision made by the administration, they need to have their parent write the request to the Principal or Assistant Principal. They will schedule an appeals meeting and allow the student and parent to explain why they want an appeal.
Once the disciplinary decision has been made, the school will deliver it to the student. This decision letter usually includes the steps necessary to appeal the decision. Generally, you will have somewhere between 3 and 10 days to file your appeal with the designated office at your school. The appeal must be made in writing and can only be made on certain grounds. The three most common grounds for an appeal to be made in school disciplinary proceedings are:
- There is new evidence available now that was not available before and would have changed the outcome of the case.
- The sanctions imposed are much harsher than the alleged conduct the student is accused of committing.
- The individual or committee who heard the disciplinary matter had some sort of bias or conflict of interest against the accused student.
Once the appeal is filed, a new overseeing body will review it and determine if the original disciplinarian's decision should be upheld, overruled, or modified in some way. It is important to note that, for the most part, the appeal decision is final and cannot be appealed further.
As such, it is incredibly important to file a well-thought-out and accurate appeal. You want to ensure you have every chance to defend yourself to the fullest so that you are not forced to suffer consequences that may have been mitigated.
Consequences for Hazing Disciplinary Actions in High School
Students who are found responsible for hazing are often suspended or expelled from their high school. Most schools classify hazing as a serious violation of their code of conduct, especially if it results in harm to another person or damage to someone's property.
When a student is suspended or expelled, it can impact every aspect of their lives. For example, if the suspended or expelled student hopes to continue their education elsewhere, they must explain this punishment on their applications as they are usually noted on their transcripts. The school the student is trying to get into may be hesitant to allow students with such pasts to enroll.
This is particularly true for students applying to college. Most college applications include a section asking applicants to declare whether they have ever been disciplined by their high school, the type of punishment they were given, and the facts surrounding the incident that spurred such a punishment.
Many students will have difficulty reliving these experiences on every application they fill out. Most will blame the hazing allegations as the reason they were unable to continue their education or attend the college of their choice, inhibiting their sense of resilience.
When students are unable to access their resilience, it can have a significant impact on their mental and emotional well-being. Suspended or expelled students are more likely to withdraw from their family and friends, have decreased self-esteem, and generally feel frustrated and overwhelmed with their new circumstances. If the student is still in the middle of high school, this drop in well-being may push them to act out in other ways, which could lead to future disciplinary actions, more punishments, and decreased self-esteem. Essentially, disciplinary action for hazing allegations places the student on a hamster wheel they can't seem to hop off of.
The only way to ensure your child does not suffer like this is to work with a skilled student defense attorney. The LLF Law Firm Student Defense Team will work diligently to protect your child's future from overwhelming punishments, frustrating relationships with their instructors, and negative remarks from classmates.
Where Can LLF Law Firm Help
The LLF Law Firm Student Defense Team can assist students at a number of high schools around the country, including public, private, charter, and international schools such as:
- American University Preparatory School in Los Angeles, California
- French American International School in San Francisco, California
- International Bilingual School in Palos Verdes Estates, California
- International School of Denver in Colorado
- The International School at Dundee in Riverside, Connecticut
- Whitby School in Greenwich, Connecticut
- Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter, New Hampshire
- Princeton International School of Math and Science in Princeton, New Jersey
- Choate Rosemary Hall in Wallingford, Connecticut
- Phillips Academy Andover in Andover, Massachusetts
- The Davidson Academy in Reno, Nevada
- North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics in Durham, North Carolina
- Horace Mann School in Bronx, New York
- St. Mark's School of Texas in Dallas, Texas
- Crystal Springs Uplands School in Hillsborough, California
- BASIS Independent McLean in McLean, Virginia
- American Heritage Schools, Broward Campus in Plantation, Florida
- Sidwell Friends School in Washington, DC
- Payton College Preparatory High School in Chicago, Illinois
- Cary Academy in Cary, North Carolina
- The Westminster Schools in Atlanta, Georgia
- Indian Springs School in Indian Springs, Alabama
- Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- Pine View School in Sarasota, Florida
- Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Humanities in Muncie, Indiana
- Signature School in Evansville, Indiana
- Poolesville High School in Montgomery County, Maryland
No matter where your school is located or whether they have an anti-hazing policy available, you need a strong defense. Call the LLF Law Firm Student Defense Team today.
How the LLF Law Firm's Student Defense Team Can Help
Given the nature of international schools, parents tend to put a lot of faith in the school administration to ensure their child is protected. So, when their child is accused of hazing by the international school, they may be more inclined to follow the school's lead. Unfortunately, without getting the advice of an experienced student defense attorney, these parents are opening their children up to serious consequences that can last their entire lives.
Your child deserves a chance to present a strong defense to their disciplinary committee. The LLF Law Firm Student Defense Team will ensure they are fully prepared, gathering relevant evidence and witness testimony to support their arguments. Call 888-535-3686 today.
