Hazing generally includes mistreatment of students or other persons (pledges or plebes) in a ritualistic or tradition-based way that must be endured by the prospective members to gain admission to a group, club, or organization. The members doing the hazing often attempt to justify these hazing practices by referring to them as a rite of passage or rationalizing that all current members had to endure it and new prospective members should as well.

Hazing can take many forms, including:

• Requiring victims to act as a personal servant to senior (older) group members

• Forcing victims to binge drink or consume large amounts of alcohol or drugs

• Requiring victims to engage in embarrassing acts, such as wearing a costume or sign around their neck in public

• Depriving victims of sleep, food, or the ability to use the restroom

• Prohibiting victims from associating with family, friends, or other persons

• Swearing or yelling insults at victims.

Most schools have policies against hazing and in many states hazing may be prosecuted as a criminal offense if it results in bodily injury.

In Utah, hazing is addressed under Utah Code §76-5-107.5, which defines hazing as intentionally or knowingly committing an act that is likely to cause physical injury, mental distress, or personal degradation to a person as a condition of joining or maintaining membership in a group, team, or organization. The law covers a range of activities that can be considered hazing, including those mentioned in the description such as servitude, forced consumption of substances, engaging in humiliating acts, sleep deprivation, and isolation from others. Utah's hazing statute makes it clear that consent of the victim is not a defense to hazing. Depending on the severity of the act and the harm caused, hazing can be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony. Additionally, educational institutions in Utah typically have their own policies prohibiting hazing, which can result in disciplinary actions independent of any criminal charges.