Hazing is often more commonly associated with college students than high school students, largely due to the media's focus on incidents at universities and colleges. However, high schools also take hazing very seriously and enforce strict consequences for such actions.
In the District of Columbia, schools act quickly to discipline students accused of hazing, even though policies are in place to protect students' due process rights. High schools are eager to avoid any appearance of condoning harmful or humiliating behavior, so they often take swift action to prevent hazing incidents from becoming public.
If your child is facing hazing allegations in a D.C. high school, they may not have a fair chance to defend themselves. At the Lento Law Firm, we understand the frustration that families experience when a student is accused of hazing. Our Student Defense Team represents students in disciplinary cases in D.C. and across the nation, and we will advocate for your child's right to a fair process. To get in touch with us, call 888-535-3686 or fill out our consultation form, and we will contact you.
District of Columbia Hazing Regulations
The District of Columbia's municipal regulations consider hazing as grounds for disciplinary action at schools. Hazingis defined as “actions taken against a person for the purpose of being initiated into a group that endangers the mental or physical health, well-being, or safety of a student and results in humiliation, embarrassment, ridicule, intimidation, or shame.”
Hazing is considered a “Tier III” behavior in D.C. schools, and so can result in one of the following penalties:
- Verbal reprimand
- Conference with a teacher or administrator
- Parental contact
- Parent Conference
- Temporary removal from the classroom
- Behavior contract
- In-school disciplinary action
- On-site, short-term suspension
- Off-site, short-term suspension
- Off-site, medium-term suspension
These municipal regulations apply to all public schools in D.C. While schools can have their own student handbooks or codes of conduct, they must still comply with city laws concerning discipline. Private and parochial schools don't have to abide by the same regulations but many of them also prohibit hazing and bullying amongst students.
Does the District of Columbia Have an Anti-Bullying Law?
D.C. municipal regulations also prohibit bullying in schools. It's defined as “repeated intentional behavior that occurs in order to intentionally harm others through verbal or nonverbal harassment, physical assault, or other more subtle methods of coercion.”
The law also lists some examples of bullying, which include:
- Teasing
- Taunting
- Threatening
- Hitting
- Stealing
- Destroying personal property
- Sending threatening or abusive emails, text messages, or other electronic communications
Bullying is also a Tier III offense, so the penalties are the same as for hazing in D.C. schools. Often, bullying and hazing are considered similar offenses, and they may even overlap. As a parent, you should familiarize yourself with your school's code of conduct, so you understand what can happen if your child gets in trouble. Both public and private schools should make behavior policies readily available to students and parents, and if they don't, ask for a copy.
How D.C. High Schools Handle Hazing
High schools in D.C. stick closely to municipal regulations concerning student discipline, including hazing and bullying. The District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) models its Safe and Positive Schools Policy after D.C. local laws as well. The district follows the multi-tiered disciplinary matrix when deciding on a penalty for students accused of hazing or bullying.
Private schools generally have their own disciplinary policies, but they're similar to the matrix provided by DCPS.
As mentioned above, the penalties for hazing in DCPS range from a verbal reprimand to expulsion. Generally, the severity of the alleged violation matches the proposed penalty, but sometimes, school officials can get carried away. They may try to impose an unjust penalty that is completely inconsistent with the infraction. As a parent, you have a responsibility to stand up for your student's rights. Don't let the high school exclude your child from the classroom or remove them from extracurricular activities simply because they want to close the matter quickly. Contact the Lento Law Firm's Student Discipline Defense Team for help defending your child's due process rights.
The Disciplinary Process for a Hazing Accusation in the District of Columbia
Hazing is a serious offense that could result in suspension or even expulsion from school. If the school wants to remove your student from school grounds (off-site suspension, expulsion, or alternative placement) for more than ten days, your student has a right to know the charges against them and a chance to refute those charges. For less severe penalties, the District of Columbia also requires schools to consider all factors involved before taking disciplinary action.
If a school principal wants to remove your student from the classroom for half a day or more, they must follow D.C. education law concerning student discipline. Before students can be suspended in DCPS, they must be given due process, which includes:
- The right to an administrative conference
- Review the incident to decide on an appropriate response
- Documenting all information related to the suspension
- Sending notification of the proposed disciplinary action to the parent or guardian
- Creating an education plan (for suspensions of more than two days)
As part of guaranteeing a student's due process rights, DCPS schools must follow a strict disciplinary procedure when suspending or expelling students. It starts when a principal or school official wants to implement serious disciplinary action.
Conference
A school principal can impose an on-site or off-site short-term suspension without getting approval from the Chancellor. Medium- and long-term suspensions must first be approved by the Chancellor. However, students must have a conference with the principal before any action takes effect. At this conference, the principal must discuss the following with the student:
- Grounds for disciplinary action, citing the relevant regulations
- Description of the facts and events that led to a proposal for disciplinary action
- Presentation and explanation of the facts the school official has used to determine the student committed an infraction
- Opportunity for the student to present their version of the facts or events
- Decision regarding the alleged infraction and recommended disciplinary action
- Statement providing the right to appeal.
No school in DCPS is allowed to suspend or expel a student without first notifying their parent or guardian in writing. Parents are also allowed to attend this conference, and you can have a legal representative present.
Hearing
For expulsions and suspensions of 11 days or more, students have the right to a disciplinary hearing in DCPS. The hearing must be held within four days of the parent or guardian receiving notice of the proposed disciplinary action—but as a parent, you can ask for an additional five days to prepare for the hearing if needed. Students have the right to have legal counsel present at disciplinary hearings.
You, your student, or your attorney can question witnesses, present evidence, or give testimony at the hearing. One day after the hearing is finished, the hearing officer must issue a recommendation and final decision concerning the disciplinary action. For long-term suspensions, the Chancellor must approve. For expulsions, the Office of Youth Engagement must approve the action. If the hearing officer recommends that no disciplinary action is warranted, the student doesn't receive the proposed penalty.
Appeals
To appeal a long-term suspension, you must submit a written or oral request to the Office of Youth Engagement within five school days of receiving the final hearing decision. The head of the Office of Youth Engagement should schedule a conference with the parent or guardian within three days of the appeal request. You can present arguments in favor of the appeal at this conference, and the head of the Office of Youth Engagement must make a decision within two school days of the appeal conference.
To appeal an expulsion, you must follow the same process as appealing a suspension, but you send the request to the Chancellor rather than the Office of Youth Engagement.
Private schools are allowed to have their own procedures for dealing with hazing and bullying. They generally try to guarantee a student's due process rights, but it doesn't always happen. It's crucial for you, as a parent, to know what the school's policies are before your student is enrolled.
The disciplinary process can be long and complex when your child is accused of hazing. You shouldn't try to go through it alone. At the Lento Law Firm, we can help you at every step of the process. We'll ensure you understand the actions that school officials are trying to take and the best way to respond, given your child's situation. With our Student Discipline Team by your side, you can truly protect your child's rights to a fair and just disciplinary process at their D.C. high school.
Hazing Accusations Have Long-Term Consequences
When students are accused of hazing, the repercussions can extend well beyond school-related consequences. They may be barred from participating in sports and extracurricular activities, leading to social isolation and hindering their emotional and social development.
A hazing offense on their record can also create significant obstacles to future opportunities, such as college admissions or employment. While some colleges might still accept students with hazing accusations, they may withhold scholarships, making it harder to afford tuition.
Students may also encounter ongoing challenges in their careers, particularly in fields that require professional licensing, such as healthcare, education, and law. These consequences can have a lasting impact, even if the allegations are eventually proven false. Many high school students are also concerned about the possibility of false accusations, often stemming from strained relationships or the pressure to excel. For all these reasons, it's essential for schools to address hazing allegations promptly and handle them fairly, ensuring that accused students have a chance to clear their names.
Our Student Defense Team Can Help
If your child has been accused of hazing at a high school in D.C., it's important to seek professional help rather than handling the situation on your own. The school's disciplinary process may not adhere to the principle of "innocent until proven guilty," and they might need only minimal evidence to build a case against your child. To ensure the best possible outcome, consider working with the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team. Our firm provides crucial support to families and students in D.C. by:
- Collecting evidence and obtaining witness statements to bolster your defense
- Helping you prepare a response to the accusations and accompanying you to any meetings or hearings
- Meeting with the school's disciplinary authorities and negotiating on your behalf
- Assisting you with your appeal request, even if it means pursuing further legal action
Throughout the disciplinary process, the Lento Law Firm team will be there to guide and support you and your child as you navigate the hazing allegations. We understand the stress this situation can place on your family, and we are committed to providing a strong defense. By partnering with us, your family can focus on your daily lives without the added burden of defending against a hazing accusation.
To learn more about how we can assist you, call 888-535-3686 or fill out our contact form, and one of our team members will reach out to you.
