About
Criminal Penalties
Hazing carries serious legal consequences under Georgia's Max Gruver Act (O.C.G.A. § 16-5-61):
Legal Consequences:
- Misdemeanor or felony criminal charges
- Jail time, fines, or probation
- Civil lawsuits and financial liability
- Criminal record affecting future employment and opportunities
Additional Consequences
- Institutional: Organizations may lose recognition; students may face suspension or expulsion
- Personal: Damaged reputation, academic decline, emotional guilt
- Organizational: Loss of privileges, financial liability, damaged reputation
- Individual Impact: Physical and psychological harm, academic struggles, hospitalization, or, in extreme cases, death