Kean University, located in Union, New Jersey, is one of the state's largest and most diverse public universities. With a history dating back to 1855, Kean has a longstanding commitment to academic excellence and accessibility. The school's 17,000-plus undergraduate students help form a vibrant and inclusive community that values innovation and global perspective. The university offers a dynamic campus life featuring numerous student organizations, active Greek Life, and a variety of social events. Kean also boasts a competitive athletics program, participating in NCAA Division III as part of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC).
Gaining admission to Kean University is a significant achievement, but a single hazing charge could cost you your enrollment and derail your future.
The state of New Jersey takes hazing charges extremely seriously. There are strict laws in place at both the state and federal level designed to protect students from dangerous initiation practices. These laws have made it so even a single hazing charge can have serious consequences, including fines, jail time, and a permanent criminal record. This is all in addition to whatever academic consequences—up to and including expulsion—come as a result of violating these laws.
If you're a Kean University student facing hazing-related charges in the state of New Jersey, the Lento Law Firm Criminal Defense Team is ready to help protect your future. Call us today at 888.535.3686 or contact us online to learn about your options.
How Does New Jersey Define Hazing?
New Jersey's legal definition of hazing is written in the Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law (N.J.S.A. 2C:40-3). This law also categorizes hazing as a criminal offense with penalties determined by the severity of the incident. Timothy J. Piazza was a NJ native who died during a hazing incident at Penn State University, and the law seeks to honor his memory by making it more likely that perpetrators of hazing-related crimes will face serious consequences.
The law defines hazing as being closely tied to initiation into an organization, including sports teams, sororities, fraternities, and other clubs. A person is guilty of criminal hazing when they “knowingly or recklessly” engage in any of the following behaviors:
- Causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person to commit an act that violates federal or state criminal law
- Causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person to consume any food, liquid, alcoholic liquid, drug, or other substance that subjects the person to a risk of emotional or physical harm or is otherwise deleterious to the person's health
- Subjecting another person to abuse, mistreatment, harassment, or degradation of a physical nature, including, but not limited to, whipping, beating, branding, excessive calisthenics, or exposure to the elements
- Subjecting another person to abuse, mistreatment, harassment, or degradation of a mental or emotional nature, including, but not limited to, activity adversely affecting the mental or emotional health or dignity of the individual, sleep deprivation, exclusion from social contact, or conduct that could result in extreme embarrassment
- Subjecting another person to abuse, mistreatment, harassment, or degradation of a sexual nature
- Subjecting another person to any other activity that creates a reasonable likelihood of bodily injury to the person.
Most hazing charges will be categorized as disorderly persons offenses in a court of law. These charges can be elevated to fourth-degree crimes if the act results in injury and third-degree crimes if the act results in serious injury or death. Any hazing charge can include fines and other penalties. And again, this is all separate from any academic penalties levied by Kean University.
Consequences of a Hazing Conviction in New Jersey
There's no overstating it—being convicted of hazing could put your entire student career in jeopardy. Kean University, like many schools, works hard to create a safe atmosphere for all its students, and as such, it cracks down hard on alleged hazing incidents. Even if your criminal hazing charges don't result in a conviction, the school could still choose to impose penalties up to and including expulsion. The school's code of conduct also makes it clear that any organization involved in a hazing incident can also be suspended as a result of the school's disciplinary procedures.
University discipline and remediation are handled separately from criminal hazing charges, and it will require a law team skilled in student defense to secure the best possible outcome for your academic career.
A school can revoke your scholarship, ban you from student housing, and suspend or expel you completely, among other things. Hazing convictions can carry significant legal penalties as well.
Any hazing conviction will result in a criminal record, which will show up on background checks for years to come. This can affect everything from graduate school applications to future job opportunities, completely altering the course of your life.
On top of that, any hazing charge can also lead to jail time and fines. The minimum charge associated with hazing is a disorderly persons charge, which is punishable by up to six months in jail up to $1,000 in fines. Most hazing charges fall into this category, however the severity can increase based on the incident.
If an injury occurred, the charge can be elevated to a fourth-degree crime. This can carry a sentence of up to eighteen months in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
If a severe injury or accidental death took place, the charge can be elevated to a third-degree charge. This comes with a potential prison sentence of up to five years in prison and fines of up to $15,000.
In New Jersey, the organization involved in the incident can also be subjected to fines of between $1,000 and $5,000 for an initial violation and $5,000 to $15,000 for each subsequent violation. Such fines can cause significant financial stress for the organization and could even result in its dissolution.
Hazing charges carry serious and potentially life-altering consequences. If you have been accused of a hazing incident, finding qualified legal representation is key to protecting your very future. That's why you should contact the Lento Law Firm as soon as you learn that you are being accused of hazing. Both our Criminal Defense Team and our Student Defense Teams are ready to ensure your future is protected.
What to Do If You Are Accused of Hazing at Kean University
If you or your child is facing hazing charges at Kean University or any other college, university, or other school in the state of New Jersey, it's time to take quick and decisive action. Contact qualified legal representation like the Lento Law Firm right away, as the longer you delay, the less time you and your legal team will have to assemble a successful defensive strategy.
Follow any advice your legal team gives to you, as they will have specific insight into your conditions. If you have yet to contact the Lento Law Firm, here are some general considerations you should follow in the meantime:
- Do not speak to investigators alone. Remember that anything you say can be used against you, so it is best to politely decline to comment on anything until after you consult with an attorney.
- Create a record of communications. Save any and all text messages, emails, social media posts, or other evidence that may support your defense.
- Prepare for university disciplinary hearings. Even if charges are dropped, your school may still impose disciplinary measures up to and including expulsion. These are separate from any criminal charges, and you will be well served to find education-specific legal representation to help preserve your academic future.
Choose the Lento Law Firm
Because we offer both Criminal Defense and Student Defense services, the Lento Law Firm is uniquely suited to take on your hazing case and defend your rights. We know every case is different, so we personalize your defensive strategy around the specific details of your situation. We believe this approach gives us the best chance to secure a positive outcome for your case.
Kean University and the state of New Jersey take hazing allegations extremely seriously. We know that the defense of your rights and your future are every bit as serious.
Our team will thoroughly investigate the allegations involved in your case, looking for mitigating factors or additional context that could make all the difference.
For instance, while consent is not a defense in hazing cases, the nature of participation matters. An overzealous pledge who goes too far to impress the rest of the fraternity can't turn around and say their actions were being coerced by the organization.
People make mistakes, and college and university students are often put into situations where they are forced into snap decisions that far outweigh their life experiences. We believe that a single mistake should never define your entire future. If you're facing hazing charges at Kean University or any other school in the state, call the Lento Law Firm at 888.535.3686 or contact us online to make sure your future is protected.
