Seton Hall University, located in South Orange, New Jersey, is a respected Catholic research university with roots dating back to 1856. Approximately 5,800 undergraduate students and 4,400 graduate students are enrolled at Seton Hall, and these students get to enjoy a spirited campus community as well as a world-class education. The school is nationally known for its men's basketball program, who have appeared regularly in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament.
Attending Seton Hall is a privilege and a dream come true for many of its applicants. But it can all be derailed by a single accusation of hazing.
Seton Hall University and the state of New Jersey each take a strong stance against hazing practices, and there are relatively recent laws both at the state and federal levels that make sure individuals convicted of hazing charges face stiff penalties. Even a single charge of hazing could result in jail time, major fines, and a permanent criminal record. This is all in addition to the academic consequences enacted by Seton Hall, which could include banishment from school housing, suspension, or even expulsion.
Being convicted of hazing could derail your entire future. If you're a Seton Hall University student facing hazing charges, the Lento Law Firm Criminal Defense Team is ready to help. Call us today at 888.535.3686 or contact us online to get started on your defense.
How Does New Jersey Define Hazing?
The Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law (N.J.S.A. 2C:40-3) codifies the legal definition of hazing in the state of New Jersey. The law is named in memory of a NJ native who died as a result of a hazing incident at Penn State University, and it honors him by making it far easier for prosecutors to seek serious criminal penalties in hazing-related crimes, especially when a severe injury or death occurred.
New Jersey's definition of hazing is tied to acts of initiation into an organization. This includes fraternities, sororities, sports teams, and other clubs. Criminal hazing charges come when a person “knowingly or recklessly” engages in any of the following behavior:
- 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 which 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.
In court, hazing charges will generally fall under the category of disorderly persons offenses. If the act in question resulted in an injury, the charges will likely be elevated to fourth-degree crimes. If there was a serious injury or death, they would likely be elevated to third-degree crimes.
Any hazing charge should be taken seriously, as it has the ability to impact the rest of your life. A criminal record alone is enough to alter future academic or career opportunities. That's why it's essential that you mount a swift and comprehensive defense against any hazing allegations.
Academic Consequences of Hazing at Seton Hall
There's no sugar-coating it—being convicted of hazing can jeopardize your entire future. But even an allegation of hazing could have serious consequences. Seton Hall University takes a hard stance against hazing in order to create a safe and inclusive atmosphere for its students, and as such, it could still choose to penalize a student over allegations of hazing even if those allegations don't result in a criminal conviction.
The Seton Hall code of conduct describes the school's anti-hazing policy in detail, making it clear that even something like requiring someone to wear a uniform or other “conspicuous” clothing can be considered hazing. It also makes it clear that any organization involved in the incident can face sanctions as well, meaning that the actions of an individual could have repercussions for the rest of the sorority, fraternity, or other group.
Seton Hall explicitly states that students who are found to be involved in hazing can face fines, withholding of diplomas or transcripts, probation, suspension, dismissal, or even expulsion. And this is all separate from the criminal charges that could be associated with the incident. The school will handle its own investigation into affairs, and for that, you need a law team familiar with student defense. The future of your academic career could be at stake.
Criminal Consequences of Hazing in New Jersey
In addition to the school's investigation, hazing charges will be prosecuted in a court of law as well. A conviction will leave you with a criminal record that will show up on background checks for years to come. This record can change the course of your life, limiting further academic options, future job opportunities, and more.
Hazing convictions could also result in 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 and up to $1,000 in fines. Most hazing charges fall into this category.
The severity of a charge will escalate if the incident resulted in injury or death. If an injury occurred, the charge can be elevated to a fourth-degree crime with a sentence of up to eighteen months in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
If there was a severe injury or accidental death, the charge can be elevated to a third-degree crime. This carries a potential prison sentence of up to five years and fines of up to $15,000.
New Jersey allows the organization involved in the incident to face penalties as well. This includes fines of between $1,000 and $5,000 for an initial violation and $5,000 to $15,000 for each subsequent violation. These fines can result in significant financial strains on the organization and could even lead to its dissolution.
What to Do If You Are Accused of Hazing at Seton Hall University
If you or your child is accused of hazing at Seton Hall University or any other college, university, or educational institution in the state of New Jersey, it's important that you take the accusations seriously and act immediately. And your first step should be to hire qualified legal representation from the Lento Law Firm.
Your legal team will give you specific advice to follow in order to give yourself the best chance of winning your case. If you have yet to contact the Lento Law Firm, you are letting valuable time slip away. The sooner you set yourself up with a legal team that knows how to work with Seton Hall students, the more time they will have to build your case and protect your future.
Choose the Lento Law Firm
The Lento Law Firm is well-suited to defending against hazing allegations because we offer both Criminal Defense and Student Defense services. Our teams are ready to represent you both in the court of law and in any school-initiated disciplinary procedures.
We build our defensive strategies around the unique details of your case, and we always put your needs at the center of our approach. Our team will investigate the situation, collecting evidence and testimony that supports your side of the story. We'll be by your side throughout the entire process, ensuring that you don't have to go through this difficult time by yourself. And we will work relentlessly to secure the best possible outcome for your case.
We know how seriously both the state of New Jersey and Seton Hall University take allegations of hazing. Your defense needs to be taken every bit as seriously—your entire future could depend on it.
College and university students can often find themselves in situations that require them to make snap judgment calls. We don't think that a single mistake or an unfortunate lapse of judgment should upend someone's entire academic career or derail their future plans. One mistake doesn't need to define your life.
If you're facing hazing charges at Seton Hall University, start building your defense by calling the Lento Law Firm at 888.535.3686 or contacting us online for a confidential consultation. We're ready to protect your future, both at school and beyond.
