Only one out of every ten victims of hazing realizes that they have been hazed. If you're a member, or trying to become a member, of a sorority, club, team, or organization that requires its members to pass any sort of initiation process, keep reading.
Recognizing Hazing
What's the difference between a harmless initiation process and hazing? During a harmless group initiation process, you're not forced or pressured into doing things that could cause immediate harm to yourself.
You can be subject to harm in several different ways. Physical abuse might include punching, paddling, spanking, or sexual acts. Psychological abuse might be administered by means of intimidation, ostracism, shame, embarrassment, or humiliation.
So, how do you know if you have been hazed? If during a group initiation process you were physically injured or made to feel emotionally unstable in any way, and you either couldn't stop participating or feared any type of consequences that might arise from your cessation of the activity, then you were likely the victim of hazing.
What The Law Says
The laws against hazing vary by state. Some states dish out fines of up to $10,000 and imprisonment for those found guilty of hazing, while others punish hazers with fines as low as $50. Some states require students found guilty of hazing to forfeit their scholarships and organizations to forfeit their funding, yet other states have absolutely no laws governing the practice of hazing.
What's important to remember is that, regardless of what your state laws are concerning hazing, and regardless of how the legal system chooses to punish those found guilty of hazing, you can still attempt to recover compensation for the damages you sustained by taking those who are responsible for your harm to court. Even if hazing is legal in your state, this doesn't mean that you aren't entitled to reimbursement when somebody else's negligent actions causes you to lose money, time, or well-being.
What You Should Do
If you feel you have been harmed during a group initiation process, visit an appropriate doctor as soon as possible. Physical injuries should be reported to a medical doctor, of course, while psychological suffering can be evaluated by a psychologist. Having your injuries or suffering documented by a trained professional will help you prove your case when it comes time for court.
Next, visit a personal injury lawyer. The types of groups that administer organized abuse to their members often also have some sort of code of silence. It's often very difficult to get other members of the group to discuss the circumstances surrounding the abuse, so investigating the case can be tricky.
Your lawyer will work to discover who is responsible for the abuse you endured. While the group members may have inflicted you harm, a higher-up organization or official may be responsible if they knew about the abuse yet still allowed it to happen. Your lawyer will also help you determine the fair cost of your injuries, taking all aspects of your pain and suffering into consideration.
Victims of hazing often don't realize that they have been hazed, even when they have sustained injuries from the hazing. If you suffered any kind of pain or emotional suffering at the hands of one or more individuals during a group initiation process, it's time to take action. Visit a healthcare professional to document your injuries, and then find a reputable personal injury attorney to help you prove your case in court. In the future, consider limiting the chance that others will be hazed by contacting your local officials and encouraging them to lobby for federal laws that promise high fines and plenty of jail time for perpetrators of organized abuse.
For more information, contact an experienced attorney from a firm like Walz Law Office.
