The Greater Houston area has its fair share of colleges and universities, including Sam Houston State University and the University of Houston. For students in the area, hazing accusations present significant challenges.
If you're attending school in the Houston suburbs of The Woodlands or Sugar Land, it's important to not only understand the stakes but also to know your rights. The Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team has experience with hazing accusations and can help Houston-area students navigate the process. Before you go through the disciplinary process, get in touch with us at 888-535-3686 or fill out our confidential online form.
Hazing Laws in Houston
The State of Texas has blanket anti-hazing laws that apply across the board. Universities can choose to add to those laws, but it isn't required. In Texas, it's illegal to engage in hazing, aid others in hazing, allow hazing to occur, or fail to report a planned hazing event.
But criminal and civil action aren't the only consequences of hazing. For college students in Greater Houston, schools have their own policies, and violating those policies can result in severe disciplinary action, up to and including expulsion. You don't need to go in front of a judge to request the Lento Law Firm Team's help. We can advise you through each step of the investigation process and work to help minimize penalties.
Hazing Definitions at Houston Universities
Houston's universities respect state law when defining hazing, but they also spell it out in their anti-hazing policies. At the University of Houston, hazing is defined as an intentional, knowing, or reckless act that's directed against another student for the purpose of being initiated or leading an organization.
The University of St. Thomas (UST), which has a site in Sugar Land, has a slightly different hazing definition. At UST, hazing is defined as any act that is humiliating or demeaning or endangers the health and safety of a person. The school's definition specifies that the act must be associated with joining or holding a leadership position in any team, group, or organization.
Some Houston-area schools don't provide a definition of hazing online. At Sam Houston State University in The Woodlands, the Student Code of Conduct defers to state law in defining hazing. Baylor College of Medicine, which has campuses in both Sugar Land and The Woodlands, doesn't address hazing in its policies at all.
Hazing Reporting at Houston-Area Universities
Whether you're a student in Sugar Land, The Woodlands, or another area of Houston, most hazing accusations start with a report. Each university has its own procedure for students, faculties, staff, and other concerned parties to report suspected hazing.
Here are the procedures at some of the area's top universities:
- Sam Houston State University: Non-emergency reports can be submitted using the incident report form. You can also submit your complaint to the Dean of Students by emailing [email protected] or by calling 936-294-1785.
- University of Houston: Complaints can be submitted using the Student Conduct Referral Form or, for emergencies, by calling the University of Houston Police Department at 713-743-3333.
- University of St. Thomas: Hazing reports can be submitted to the Dean of Students by calling 713-525-3570.
- Baylor College of Medicine: Any lapse in professionalism from a student can be reported by calling the Integrity Hotline at 855-764-7294 or by filing a report here.
Hazing Investigations on Houston Area Campuses
Once a complaint is received, each campus uses its individual procedure to investigate hazing accusations. In Sugar Land and The Woodlands, typically complaints come into the Dean of Students' office, where they're reviewed and put through a preliminary assessment.
If campus administrators find that the allegations go against the school's anti-hazing policy, a formal investigation will begin. The involved individual(s) will be notified of the allegation, and administrators will begin collecting evidence and interviewing witnesses.
If the investigator determines a violation has occurred, disciplinary action will be recommended. This could include:
- Community service: Sam Houston State University's disciplinary action includes 80 hours of community service, social probation, and an anti-hazing educational course.
- Probation: Students and entire organizations may be put on probation after a hazing policy violation. At the University of Houston, several Greek organizations have been put on probation for hazing activities.
- Suspension: Houston universities, including the University of St. Thomas, may temporarily suspend students for hazing violations.
- Expulsion: As with other infractions, more severe hazing violations can result in a student being permanently removed from campus.
Standards of Evidence in Educational Investigations
If a student faces criminal charges for hazing activities, the burden of proof is on the criminal justice system. Prosecutors must prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that a crime was committed.
Universities don't face the same burden of proof in their investigations. An educational institution has the right to set policies and enforce those policies as it sees fit, provided they don't violate any laws relating to discrimination. Additionally, a student's ability to mount a defense is often limited, with university officials using only interviews and written statements from the student to rebut the charges.
That's why it's essential for students to get in touch with the Lento Law Firm Education Law Team early in the disciplinary process. While criminal attorneys will promise to help you with hazing charges, our firm practices helping students navigate hazing accusations on college campuses. This will ensure you have an experienced partner by your side.
Long-Term Consequences of Hazing Accusations
Whether a student violated a school's code of conduct or not, hazing accusations can come with long-term repercussions. Even if you never face criminal charges or the charges are dropped, university sanctions on your record can have long-term repercussions, including:
- Organization access: Even if you're cleared of the accusations, participation in prohibited activities could affect your standing in any membership organizations. If you were in a leadership role, you could find you're demoted or ousted altogether.
- Student file impact: If a hazing accusation lands on your student record, it will remain there unless you can get it expunged. This can put a black mark on your transcript, which may be requested by future employers.
- Difficulty transferring or graduating: Hazing accusations can get in the way of transferring your credits to another university or qualifying for grad school. You may also find that a hazing accusation delays your graduation or stops it altogether if you're expelled.
- Loss of financial aid: If you're receiving scholarships, grants, or government assistance to help with college expenses, take a close look at the terms. Some have conduct requirements, and disciplinary action may jeopardize those funds.
- Professional licensing issues: Students going into fields like law, medicine, and education should be mindful of state licensing requirements. During the application process, you may be required to mention your college-era disciplinary action, and that could get in the way of the license you need to do your job.
- Social consequences: Hazing accusations can follow a student, both on campus and off. The stigma can even follow you after you leave the university where the alleged hazing happened.
This is where the attorneys at the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team can make a big difference. Our top goal is to reduce the risk of damage to your student record. When necessary, though, we can also work to diminish the long-term impact of any disciplinary action.
Why You Need the Lento Law Firm Team for a Hazing Accusation
Hazing accusations are a serious matter, and when they happen, it's important to have an attorney from the start. Here are a few reasons you should pick up the phone and call the Lento Law Firm Education Law Team once a disciplinary investigation is underway:
- University processes vs. criminal court: If you face criminal charges, you'll be put through due process, where a court will decide your fate. As qualified as Houston's campus administrators are, the burden of proof for campus procedures isn't the same. Even if your hazing accusations wouldn't hold up in a courtroom, in other words, a campus investigatory process could still result in serious sanctions.
- University cases vs. court cases: Criminal defense attorneys specialize in courtroom procedures. As skilled as they are, they typically aren't as deeply familiar with university disciplinary processes as the Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team. Education law is a targeted field, and it's important to have an attorney who's deeply familiar with the law.
- Schools work quickly: A criminal charge takes weeks, if not months, while a university can take action within days of an incident. That short turnaround time can make it tough for a student to gather the information necessary to put together a defense. The Lento Law Firm Team can use our years of experience to act quickly.
- Limited defense: In a courtroom setting, you're allowed to mount a full defense. That isn't the case with a campus investigation. You typically won't be allowed to view all the evidence against you or cross-examine witnesses, and you may not even be allowed to have legal representation present during interviews and hearings.
- Lasting consequences: If disciplinary action results, it will likely go on your student record, where it will remain. Without an attorney, getting the notation expunged may be impossible.
- Colleges have agendas: Generally speaking, a college may choose to severely punish a student or groups of students to demonstrate a commitment to battling hazing. By having the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team on your side, you have someone fighting for you.
- Protection against self-incrimination: You may not realize it, but if a criminal case results from hazing allegations, anything you submit as part of the campus investigation can be used against you. Having the Lento Law Firm Education Law Team's assistance from the start can help protect you against further damage to your case.
How the Lento Law Firm Team Can Help
The Lento Law Firm Education Law Team has years of experience with hazing accusation defense. From the first notification of a hazing complaint to the final decision and beyond, we can help in the following ways:
- Early intervention: University investigations usually request a response from you early in the process. What you say in that response can be used against you, both in this investigation and in any criminal or civil cases that come along later. We'll work with you to craft statements that further your defense without incriminating you.
- Case strategy: From the start, you'll need to devise a strategy to battle the accusations. Our team will work with you to create a plan of action that will put you in the best position possible.
- Navigating disciplinary processes: Schools like the University of Houston and Sam Houston State University have their own procedures. Our team will help you navigate those processes and understand what to expect each step of the way.
- Challenging weak evidence: University officials use something called preponderance of the evidence to make disciplinary decisions. When evidence is weak and/or witness testimony is questionable, the Lento Law Firm Team can challenge university decisions.
- Post-decision advocacy: When an investigation doesn't lead to the desired result, we'll review your options and help you appeal the decision if applicable.
- Personalized defense: No two hazing allegation investigations are alike, and the Lento Law Firm Team is aware of that. We personalize each strategy to a client's unique situation to ensure you get the best defense possible.
- Negotiating sanctions: When penalties are inevitable, we work to ensure you get the least severe sanctions available.
- Protecting your reputation and future: Hazing accusations have lasting impacts. When complete absolution isn't possible, we'll work to minimize the impact that disciplinary action will have, including negotiating lower penalties and requesting information be expunged.
- Confidentiality: Hazing accusations can damage a person's reputation. At every stage of the process, we exercise the utmost discretion, minimizing public exposure wherever possible.
When you're facing hazing accusations in The Woodlands, Sugar Land, or the Greater Houston area, the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team can provide the help you need. If you're facing hazing accusations, it's important to reach out as soon as possible. Give us a call at 888-535-3686 or fill out our confidential contact form.
