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 Virginia, hazing is explicitly prohibited and considered a criminal offense under Virginia Code § 18.2-56. It is defined as recklessly or intentionally endangering the health or safety of a student or students or inflicting bodily injury on a student in connection with or for the purpose of initiation, admission into, affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in a club, organization, or association, regardless of whether the student or students so endangered or injured participated voluntarily in the relevant activity. The statute makes it clear that consent of the student does not absolve individuals from liability. Hazing offenses can be charged as a Class 1 misdemeanor, which may result in up to 12 months in jail and a fine of up to $2,500. If hazing results in serious bodily injury or death, it can be elevated to a Class 5 felony, punishable by a term of imprisonment of one to ten years, or in the discretion of the jury or the court trying the case without a jury, confinement in jail for not more than 12 months and a fine of not more than $2,500, either or both. Additionally, Virginia law requires that any person who is present at an event where hazing activities are occurring and has reasonable cause to believe that hazing is taking place shall report the hazing to law enforcement (Virginia Code § 18.2-56.1). Educational institutions in Virginia are also required to provide education on hazing prevention to students and to report incidents of hazing to law enforcement.