Hazing
Penal Law § 120.16 — a class A misdemeanor when it causes injury, a violation when it risks it
In New York, a person commits hazing who, in the course of another person's initiation into or affiliation with any organization, intentionally or recklessly engages in conduct, including physical contact or required physical activity, that creates a substantial risk of physical injury to that person or a third person.
| The conduct | The grade |
|---|---|
| The conductHazing in the second degree: creating the risk | The gradeA violation |
| The conductHazing in the first degree: creating the risk and causing the injury | The gradeClass A misdemeanor |
Other crimes committed in the course of hazing are charged under their own sections, and schools keep their own discipline. What a grade means in fines and jail is on this state's charges page. Whether conduct was hazing is a question for a court and for a licensed New York attorney.
Sources for this section (2)
- Penal Law § 120.16 — Hazing in the first degree
- Penal Law § 120.17 — Hazing in the second degree
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed New York attorney.