New Jersey statute
N.J.S.A. 2C:40-3 — Hazing
Current through P.L.2025, c.346, and J.R.22
Part of Chapter 40, New Jersey Statutes.
Criminal charges under this statute
Full text of N.J.S.A. 2C:40-3
Statutory text current through the P.L.2025, c.346, and J.R.22. This publication reproduces the official text of the New Jersey Statutes from the statute files published by the New Jersey Legislature; it is not the official statutes of the State of New Jersey.
1. a. A person is guilty of hazing, if, in connection with initiation of applicants to or members of a student or fraternal organization, whose membership is primarily students or alumni of the organization or an institution of higher education, the person knowingly or recklessly:
(1) causes, coerces, or otherwise induces another person to commit an act that violates federal or State criminal law;
(2) causes, coerces, or otherwise induces 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;
(3) subjects 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;
(4) subjects 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;
(5) subjects another person to abuse, mistreatment, harassment, or degradation of a sexual nature; or
(6) subjects another person to any other activity that creates a reasonable likelihood of bodily injury to the person.
Hazing shall not include any reasonable and customary athletic, law enforcement, or military training; contests; competitions; or events.
b. Hazing is a crime of the third degree if an actor commits an act prohibited in subsection a. of this section which results in death or serious bodily injury to another person and is a crime of the fourth degree if the actor commits an act prohibited in subsection a. of this section which results in bodily injury to another person. Otherwise, hazing is a disorderly persons offense.
c. In addition to any other sanctions or penalties that may be imposed, a student or fraternal organization described in subsection a. of this section, or an institution of higher education, that knowingly or recklessly promotes or facilitates a person to commit an act of hazing prohibited in this section shall be subject to a fine of not less than $1,000 or more than $5,000 for an initial violation of subsection a. of this section, and a fine of not less than $5,000 or more than $15,000 for each subsequent violation.
d. (1) A person, student or fraternal organization, or institution of higher education, and another person acting in concert with the person, organization, or institution, shall be immune from prosecution under this section if the person, or an employee, officer, or other agent acting on behalf of the organization or institution, as the case may be:
(a) called 9-1-1, or otherwise contacted campus security, police, or emergency services, and reported that a person was in need of medical assistance due to an act of hazing as described in this section;
(b) the caller provided the caller's name and, if applicable, the name of the person acting in concert with the caller to the 9-1-1 operator or other recipient of the emergency contact;
(c) the caller was the first to make the 9-1-1 report or other emergency report; and
(d) the caller and, if applicable, the person acting in concert with the caller remained on the scene with the person in need of medical assistance until assistance arrived and cooperated with the emergency services on the scene.
(2) In addition to any other applicable immunity or limitation on civil liability, a law enforcement officer or other official empowered to act as an officer for the arrest of offenders against the laws of this State, or a prosecutor, who, acting in good faith, arrested or charged a person who is thereafter determined to be entitled to immunity from prosecution under this subsection shall not be subject to any civil liability for the wrongful arrest or charge.
L.1980, c.169, s.1; amended 2021, c.208, s.7.
Official sources
Legal terms used in this section
Questions this section answers
What degree of offense is hazing in New Jersey?
It depends on the circumstances: hazing ranges from a disorderly persons offense to a crime of the third degree in New Jersey under N.J.S.A. 2C:40-3.
Hazing resulting in death or serious bodily injury: crime of the third degree (N.J.S.A. 2C:40-3) · Hazing resulting in bodily injury: crime of the fourth degree (N.J.S.A. 2C:40-3) · Hazing without resulting injury: disorderly persons offense (N.J.S.A. 2C:40-3)
Which New Jersey statute covers hazing?
Hazing is governed by N.J.S.A. 2C:40-3 (Hazing).
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.