| Summary: | Hazing continues to be legally problematic for institutions. In June 2007, a New Jersey prosecutor brought criminal charges against two administrators over the alcohol-related death of a freshman. It is not uncommon for administrators to be charged civilly in hazing cases, but this is believed to be the first time college administrators have been charged criminally in a hazing incident. Although the case against the administrators was dropped, the charges indicate that administrators may run the risk of being charged in both civil and criminal courts. It is therefore important for institutional administrators to have an understanding of hazing, its laws and its effects on their institutions. Institutions looking to be proactive by creating programs to diminish hazing may be held to a higher legal duty of care. This conundrum clouds the hazing problem further for administrators. In this article, possible legal issues and implications for institutions will be explored through a review of literature and case law.
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