Ala. Code
Code of Alabama

Ala. Code § 16-1-23 (2026)

Hazing Prohibited; Penalty.

✓ official Alabama Legislature (ALISON) text, laws through the 2026 Regular Session
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(a) Hazing is defined as follows:

(1) Any willful action taken or situation created, whether on or off any school, college, university, or other educational premises, which recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health of any student, or

(2) Any willful act on or off any school, college, university, or other educational premises by any person alone or acting with others in striking, beating, bruising, or maiming; or seriously offering, threatening, or attempting to strike, beat, bruise, or maim, or to do or seriously offer, threaten, or attempt to do physical violence to any student of any such educational institution or any assault upon any such students made for the purpose of committing any of the acts, or producing any of the results to such student as defined in this section.

(3) The term hazing as defined in this section does not include customary athletic events or similar contests or competitions, and is limited to those actions taken and situations created in connection with initiation into or affiliation with any organization. The term hazing does not include corporal punishment administered by officials or employees of public schools when in accordance with policies adopted by local boards of education.

(b) No person shall engage in what is commonly known and recognized as hazing, or encourage, aid, or assist any other person thus offending.

(c) No person shall knowingly permit, encourage, aid, or assist any person in committing the offense of hazing, or willfully acquiesce in the commission of such offense, or fail to report promptly his knowledge or any reasonable information within his knowledge of the presence and practice of hazing in this state to the chief executive officer of the appropriate school, college, university, or other educational institution in this state. Any act of omission or commission shall be deemed hazing under the provisions of this section.

(d) Any person who shall commit the offense of hazing shall be guilty of a Class C misdemeanor as defined by Title 13A.

(e) Any person who participates in the hazing of another, or any organization associated with a school, college, university, or other educational institution in this state which knowingly permits hazing to be conducted by its members or by others subject to its direction or control, shall forfeit any entitlement to public funds, scholarships, or awards which are enjoyed by him or by it and shall be deprived of any sanction or approval granted by the school, college, university, or other educational institution.

(f) Nothing in this section shall be construed as in any manner affecting or repealing any law of this state respecting homicide, or murder, manslaughter, assault with intent to murder, or aggravated assault.

(Acts 1981, No. 81-824, p. 1466, §§ 1-6.)

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 8 cases (5 in the last 5 years), 1997–2025 · leading case: Ex parte Barran, 730 So. 2d 203 (Ala. 1998).
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Ex parte Barran, 730 So. 2d 203 (Ala. 1998). · cites it 9× “—Nu Chapter at Auburn University (the "local chapter," or "KA"); and several individual members of KA, alleging, among other things, negligent and wanton hazing in violation of Ala.Code 1975, § 16-1-23, and assault and battery.”
Jones v. Kappa Alpha Order, Inc., 730 So. 2d 197 (Ala. Civ. App. 1997). · cites it 18× “On October 17, 1995, Jones filed a complaint against the national organization, the local chapter, and various individual KA members, alleging negligence and/or wantonness, in violation of § 16-1-23, Ala.Code 1975; negligent supervision; assault and battery; the tort of outrage;…”
K. v. Mobile Cnty. Bd. of Educ., No. 1:18-cv-00343 (S.D. Ala. Mar. 22, 2022). · cites it 23× “On September 7, 2018, the Board, the individual Board Defendants, and Superintendent Chresal D.”
Jones v. Kappa Alpha Order, Inc., 730 So. 2d 203 (Ala. 1998). · cites it 9× “— Nu Chapter at Auburn University (the “local chapter,” or “KA”); and several individual members of KA, alleging, among other things, negligent and wanton hazing in violation of Ala.Code 1975, § 16-1-23, and assault and battery.”
C. W. v. Smith, No. 1:23-cv-00368 (N.D. Ala. July 8, 2024). · cites it 5× “The law requires that such incidents be reported, see Ala. Code § 16-1-23 (3); provides criminal charges for those who haze or fail to report hazing, see Ala.”
Ex parte Dawn S. Smith. PETITION FOR WRIT OF MANDAMUS: (In re Latisha Bolden, as mother & next friend of T.B., a minor v. Arnetta Moore) (Macon Circuit Court: CV-16-900099.80)., 393 So. 3d 36 (Ala. 2023). · cites it 2× “) Section 16-1-23, Ala. Code 1975, which defines and prohibits "hazing," provides in part: "(a) Hazing is defined as follows: "….”
King, No. 4:25-cv-01822 (N.D. Ohio Oct. 17, 2025). “32(A)(4)–(5); Ala. Code §§ 16-1-23 (c), 26-14-3; Fla. Stat.”
Doe, No. 4:25-cv-01822 (N.D. Ohio Oct. 30, 2025). “32(A)(4)–(5); Ala. Code §§ 16-1-23 (c), 26-14-3; Fla. Stat.”
Ala. Code § 16-1-23(1): 1 case
C. W. v. Smith, No. 1:23-cv-00368 (N.D. Ala. July 8, 2024). “The law requires that such incidents be reported, see Ala. Code § 16-1-23 (3); provides criminal charges for those who haze or fail to report hazing, see Ala.”
Ala. Code § 16-1-23(a)(3): 1 case
Ex parte Dawn S. Smith. PETITION FOR WRIT OF MANDAMUS: (In re Latisha Bolden, as mother & next friend of T.B., a minor v. Arnetta Moore) (Macon Circuit Court: CV-16-900099.80)., 393 So. 3d 36 (Ala. 2023). “) Section 16-1-23, Ala. Code 1975, which defines and prohibits "hazing," provides in part: "(a) Hazing is defined as follows: "….”
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