Ohio Revised Code

Ohio Rev. Code § 2903.31 (2026)

Hazing

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(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Hazing" means doing any act or coercing another, including the victim, to do any act of initiation into any student or other organization or any act to continue or reinstate membership in or affiliation with any student or other organization that causes or creates a substantial risk of causing mental or physical harm to any person, including coercing another to consume alcohol or a drug of abuse, as defined in section 3719.011 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Organization" includes a national or international organization with which a fraternity or sorority is affiliated.

(B)(1) No person shall recklessly participate in the hazing of another.

(2) No administrator, employee, faculty member, teacher, consultant, alumnus, or volunteer of any organization, including any primary, secondary, or post-secondary school or any other educational institution, public or private, shall recklessly permit the hazing of any person associated with the organization.

(C)(1) No person shall recklessly participate in the hazing of another when the hazing includes coerced consumption of alcohol or drugs of abuse resulting in serious physical harm to the other person.

(2) No administrator, employee, faculty member, teacher, consultant, alumnus, or volunteer of any organization, including any primary, secondary, or post-secondary school or any other educational institution, public or private, shall recklessly permit the hazing of any person associated with the organization when the hazing includes coerced consumption of alcohol or drugs of abuse resulting in serious physical harm to that person.

(D) Whoever violates this section is guilty of hazing. A violation of division (B)(1) or (2) of this section is a misdemeanor of the second degree. A violation of division (C)(1) or (2) of this section is a felony of the third degree.

Last updated July 29, 2021 at 2:20 PM

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 15 cases (4 in the last 5 years), 1993–2022 · leading case: Jacobson v. Kaforey (Slip Opinion), 2016-Ohio-8434, 75 N.E.3d 203.
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Jacobson v. Kaforey (Slip Opinion), 2016-Ohio-8434, 75 N.E.3d 203. · cites it 4× “50(B) (“if a minor is the victim of a child stealing crime and if, as a result of that crime, the minor’s parents, parent who is the residential parent and 33 SUPREME COURT OF OHIO legal custodian, parent who is not the residential parent and legal custodian, guardian, or other…”
United States v. Davis, 588 U.S. 445 (2019). “365 (1), (5) (2016) ("probable risk of the loss of life or probable bodily or psychological harm" and "substantial risk to the life of the student or prospective member"); Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 2903.31 (A) (Lexis 2014) ("substantial risk of causing mental or physical harm"); Ore.”
Cameron v. Univ. of Toledo, 2018-Ohio-979, 98 N.E.3d 305. · cites it 6× “44 provides: Any person who is subjected to hazing, as defined in division (A) of section 2903.31 of the Revised Code, may commence a civil action for injury or damages, including mental and physical pain and suffering, that result from the hazing.”
Est. v. Fairfield City Sch. Dist. Bd. of Educ., 341 F. Supp. 3d 793 (S.D. Ohio 2018). · cites it 2× “44 provides for civil liability for hazing and states in part: "Any person who is subjected to hazing, as defined in [ Ohio Revised Code § 2903.31(A) ] may commence a civil action for injury or damages, including mental and physical pain and suffering, that results from the…”
State v. Brown, 630 N.E.2d 397 (Ohio Ct. App. 11th Dist. 1993). · cites it 2× ““Hazing” under R.C. 2903.31(A) is a strict liability crime which does not require proof of any intention or purpose.”
Vinicky v. Pristas, 839 N.E.2d 88 (Ohio Ct. App. 8th Dist. 2005). · cites it 2× “” Count five of the complaint also alleges “civil hazing,” claiming that the students “perpetrated hazing” in “direct violation of R.C. 2903.31,” and that the school failed to undertake appropriate measures to deter or prevent the “hazing activities” that were “encouraged and…”
Duitch v. Canton City Schs., 809 N.E.2d 62 (Ohio Ct. App. 5th Dist. 2004). · cites it 5× “” {¶ 20} R.C. 2903.31 defines the criminal act of hazing: “(A) As used in this section, ‘hazing’ means doing any act or coercing another, including the victim, to do any act of initiation into any student or other organization that causes or creates a substantial risk of causing…”
State v. Boyd, 2022-Ohio-3523, 198 N.E.3d 514. “{¶92} The jury did not clearly lose its way and create a manifest miscarriage of justice in finding Appellant reckless as to the recipient’s status as a juvenile under R.C. 2903.31(A)(1). We additionally point out “mistake of age is not a defense to a charge under this section.”
Wencho v. Lakewood Sch. Dist., 895 N.E.2d 193 (Ohio Ct. App. 8th Dist. 2008). · cites it 2× “’ Count five of the complaint also alleges ‘civil hazing,’ claiming that the students ‘perpetrated hazing’ in ‘direct *474 violation of R.C. 2903.31,’ and that the school failed to undertake appropriate measures to deter or prevent the ‘hazing activities’ that were ‘encouraged…”
In re G.S., 2021-Ohio-3201. “01(A)(2), a felony of the second degree; 11 counts of hazing, in violation of R.C. 2903.31(B)(1), a misdemeanor of the fourth degree; and 4 counts of unlawful restraint, a misdemeanor of the third degree.”
Weaver v. Deevers, 2021-Ohio-3791, 180 N.E.3d 619. “” Also, although the parents did not accuse the teachers of committing a crime, “hazing” could be prosecuted as a fourth-degree misdemeanor under former R.C. 2903.31, in effect at that time. {¶7} Superintendent Daulbaugh directed Assistant Superintendent Curtis to conduct the…”
State ex rel. Ohio Patrolmen's Benevolent Assn. v. Mentor, 89 Ohio St. 3d 440 (2000). “The detective concluded that there appeared to be no criminal law violations, including hazing as prohibited by R.C. 2903.31, but he recommended that administrative disciplinary charges be brought against nineteen police officers and one city employee for their respective roles…”
Show all 15 citing cases →
Ohio Rev. Code § 2903.31(A): 6 cases
Cameron v. Univ. of Toledo, 2018-Ohio-979, 98 N.E.3d 305. “44 provides: Any person who is subjected to hazing, as defined in division (A) of section 2903.31 of the Revised Code, may commence a civil action for injury or damages, including mental and physical pain and suffering, that result from the hazing.”
Est. v. Fairfield City Sch. Dist. Bd. of Educ., 341 F. Supp. 3d 793 (S.D. Ohio 2018). “44 provides for civil liability for hazing and states in part: "Any person who is subjected to hazing, as defined in [ Ohio Revised Code § 2903.31(A) ] may commence a civil action for injury or damages, including mental and physical pain and suffering, that results from the…”
State v. Brown, 630 N.E.2d 397 (Ohio Ct. App. 11th Dist. 1993). ““Hazing” under R.C. 2903.31(A) is a strict liability crime which does not require proof of any intention or purpose.”
Vinicky v. Pristas, 839 N.E.2d 88 (Ohio Ct. App. 8th Dist. 2005). “” Count five of the complaint also alleges “civil hazing,” claiming that the students “perpetrated hazing” in “direct violation of R.C. 2903.31,” and that the school failed to undertake appropriate measures to deter or prevent the “hazing activities” that were “encouraged and…”
Wencho v. Lakewood Sch. Dist., 895 N.E.2d 193 (Ohio Ct. App. 8th Dist. 2008). “’ Count five of the complaint also alleges ‘civil hazing,’ claiming that the students ‘perpetrated hazing’ in ‘direct *474 violation of R.C. 2903.31,’ and that the school failed to undertake appropriate measures to deter or prevent the ‘hazing activities’ that were ‘encouraged…”
Ohio Rev. Code § 2903.31(A)(1): 1 case
State v. Boyd, 2022-Ohio-3523, 198 N.E.3d 514. “{¶92} The jury did not clearly lose its way and create a manifest miscarriage of justice in finding Appellant reckless as to the recipient’s status as a juvenile under R.C. 2903.31(A)(1). We additionally point out “mistake of age is not a defense to a charge under this section.”
Ohio Rev. Code § 2903.31(B)(1): 1 case
In re G.S., 2021-Ohio-3201. “01(A)(2), a felony of the second degree; 11 counts of hazing, in violation of R.C. 2903.31(B)(1), a misdemeanor of the fourth degree; and 4 counts of unlawful restraint, a misdemeanor of the third degree.”
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