California Penal Code §245.6 — Hazing
PC §245.6 (Matt's Law) criminalizes hazing that causes or is likely to cause serious bodily injury to a student or prospective member of a student organization. Misdemeanor as a baseline ($100–$5,000 fine + up to 1 year jail) — wobbler up to 3 years state prison when it causes death or serious bodily injury.
Reviewed by Daniel S. Rubin, CA Bar 302093 · Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney · Hazing Cases in All LA County Courts
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01 — Quick Facts
PC §245.6 — Hazing at a Glance
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | California Penal Code §245.6 — Hazing (Matt's Law) |
| Code Type | Penal Code (PC) |
| Classification | Wobbler |
| Misdemeanor Penalty | $100–$5,000 fine + up to 1 year county jail |
| Felony Penalty | 16 months, 2, or 3 years state prison (if SBI/death) |
| Strike | No |
| Civil Liability | Yes — organization and members |
| Applies To | Students & prospective members |
| Free Consultation | (213) 723-2337 — 24/7 |
01 — What Is PC §245.6?
What Is California Penal Code §245.6?
PC §245.6 Reads:
"Hazing is any method of initiation or preinitiation into a student organization or student body, whether or not the organization or body is officially recognized by an educational institution, which is likely to cause serious bodily injury to any former, current, or prospective student."
— California Penal Code §245.6(a)
PC §245.6 — enacted in 2006 as 'Matt's Law' after the death of Chico State pledge Matt Carrington — targets initiation rituals at high schools, colleges, fraternities, sororities, sports teams, and student clubs. It is not limited to physical violence; forced consumption of alcohol, sleep deprivation, and psychological abuse all qualify when they are likely to cause serious bodily injury.
Hazing vs. Assault or Battery
General assault/battery statutes (PC §240/§242) require an unlawful touching or attempt. PC §245.6 is broader — it reaches conduct 'likely to cause' serious bodily injury even without a completed battery, and it uniquely allows criminal liability against the sponsoring organization.
PC §245.6 — Hazing
Initiation ritual likely to cause SBI. Misdemeanor (up to 1 yr jail) or felony (16 mo/2/3 yrs) if SBI or death. Organization can be prosecuted.
PC §243(d) — Battery with SBI
Any battery causing serious bodily injury. Wobbler with 2, 3, or 4 years prison. Strike if felony. No organizational liability.
Why Hazing Charges Are Serious
A hazing conviction can end a college career, trigger expulsion, expose the fraternity/sorority to civil damages under CC §1714.10, and — if serious injury or death results — carry state-prison exposure. Rubin Law, P.C. defends students, organization officers, and universities in criminal and Title IX parallel proceedings.
Official Sources
02 — Elements of the Crime
Elements the Prosecution Must Prove Under PC §245.6
To convict under PC §245.6, the prosecution must prove each element beyond a reasonable doubt.
Method of Initiation or Pre-Initiation
The conduct was part of an initiation or pre-initiation activity into a student organization or student body.
Student Organization or Student Body
The group was a student organization — recognized or unrecognized — connected to an educational institution.
Likely to Cause Serious Bodily Injury
The conduct was likely to cause serious bodily injury to a former, current, or prospective student.
Defendant Participated
The defendant participated in, conspired to, or permitted the hazing.
03 — Degrees
PC §245.6 — Tiers & Degrees
PC §245.6 is a wobbler that escalates based on the injury actually caused.
Misdemeanor Hazing
Hazing likely to cause SBI but no SBI actually occurred. $100–$5,000 fine and/or up to 1 year in county jail.
Felony Hazing
Hazing that causes death or serious bodily injury. 16 months, 2, or 3 years state prison. Wobbler.
Related Homicide Charge
When hazing results in death, prosecutors often add PC §192(b) involuntary manslaughter (2, 3, or 4 years) or PC §192(a) voluntary manslaughter (3, 6, or 11 years).
04 — Penalties
Penalties for PC §245.6 Hazing in California
PC §245.6 is charged as a misdemeanor unless serious bodily injury or death occurred.
| Charge | Code | Prison Term | Probation | Strike |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hazing (No SBI) | PC §245.6(b) | Up to 1 year county jail | Available | No |
| Hazing Causing SBI/Death — Misdo | PC §245.6(c) | Up to 1 year county jail | Available | No |
| Hazing Causing SBI/Death — Felony | PC §245.6(c) | 16 mo, 2, or 3 years prison | Available | No |
| Involuntary Manslaughter (add-on) | PC §192(b) | 2, 3, or 4 years prison | Available | No |
Aggravating Factors & Add-On Charges
Great Bodily Injury
PC §12022.7
+3 to 6 years for personally inflicting great bodily injury during the hazing.
Furnishing Alcohol to Minor
B&P §25658
Additional misdemeanor when hazing involved forced alcohol consumption by anyone under 21.
False Imprisonment
PC §236
Filed when pledges were restrained or confined during the ritual.
Battery With SBI
PC §243(d)
Wobbler add-on when the hazing involved a physical battery causing SBI.
Civil Damages
CC §1714.10
Victim may sue individual participants AND the organization for damages, attorney fees, and punitive damages.
Collateral Consequences
- University expulsion & Title IX findings
- Loss of Cal Grant / federal student aid
- Fraternity/sorority national suspension
- Civil lawsuit exposure (individual + organization)
- Immigration consequences for non-citizen students
- Bar/professional licensing character issues
Sentencing References
05 — Defense Strategies
How Rubin Law Defends PC §245.6 Hazing Charges
Rubin Law, P.C. attacks hazing prosecutions at every element — often coordinating with the university disciplinary process to avoid collateral fallout.
No Serious Bodily Injury Risk
The conduct — pushups, light calisthenics, symbolic rituals — was not objectively likely to cause serious bodily injury.
PC §245.6(a)
Voluntary Consent to Non-Dangerous Activity
Consent is not a defense to injury, but it is relevant to whether conduct was truly 'hazing' vs. voluntary participation in a non-dangerous team activity.
CALCRIM 2911
Not a Student Organization
The group was not connected to any educational institution — the statute does not reach purely private social clubs.
PC §245.6(a)
Mere Presence / Non-Participation
The defendant was present but did not participate, encourage, or have authority to stop the conduct.
People v. Nguyen
Intervening Cause of Injury
Serious injury resulted from an unforeseeable intervening act — a pre-existing medical condition, another person's act — not the alleged hazing.
Causation
Coerced Statements / Miranda Violations
Statements to campus police or Title IX investigators taken without Miranda when the interrogation was custodial and criminal in nature.
Miranda / PC §632
Constitutional Sources
07 — Court Process
How PC §245.6 Hazing Cases Move Through Los Angeles Courts
How a PC §245.6 case moves through LA County courts.
- 1
Step 1 — Campus / University Investigation
Do NOT speak to Title IX investigators, deans, or campus police without counsel. Statements are shared with prosecutors.
- 2
Step 2 — Filing Decision
DA reviews for misdemeanor vs. felony filing based on injury and evidence.
- 3
Step 3 — Arraignment
Charges read, plea entered. Misdemeanor bail typically OR release; felony $25,000–$50,000.
- 4
Step 4 — Preliminary Hearing (Felony Only)
Test the 'likely to cause SBI' element and causation.
- 5
Step 5 — Diversion / Plea Negotiations
First-offense diversion, misdemeanor reduction, or informal probation with community service.
- 6
Step 6 — Trial or Resolution
Bench or jury trial; parallel civil litigation from the victim is common.
Los Angeles Courts That Handle PC §245.6 Hazing Cases
Common LA-area courthouses handling PC §245.6 filings.
Airport Courthouse
USC / UCLA-area misdemeanor filings.
Clara Shortridge Foltz CJC
Downtown LA — felony hazing with SBI or death.
Van Nuys Courthouse
CSUN and San Fernando Valley schools.
Pasadena Courthouse
Caltech, Pasadena City College, area high schools.
Long Beach Courthouse
CSU Long Beach and South Bay campuses.
Reviewed by Your Attorney
Daniel S. Rubin — Los Angeles Hazing Defense Attorney
Daniel S. Rubin has defended clients charged with hazing and related offenses in Los Angeles County courts — including Clara Shortridge Foltz, Van Nuys, Compton, and Pomona. He understands that these cases are won in the details: the suppression hearing that eliminates key evidence, the preliminary hearing cross-examination that exposes a weak witness, the penalty phase argument that keeps a client out of the worst outcome.
This page was written and reviewed by Daniel A. Rubin, Los Angeles criminal defense attorney, CA State Bar 302093, with 10+ years of experience defending clients charged under PC §245.6 in Los Angeles County. Last reviewed: July 2026.
CA Bar 302093 | Whittier Law School | Rising Star — Super Lawyers 2019–2023 | Hazing Cases Throughout LA County
09 — FAQs
PC §245.6 Hazing Questions — Los Angeles
What is the penalty for hazing in California?
PC §245.6 is a misdemeanor punishable by $100–$5,000 fine and up to 1 year in county jail when no serious bodily injury occurs. It becomes a wobbler with up to 3 years state prison if the hazing causes serious bodily injury or death.
What is Matt's Law?
Matt's Law is the informal name for PC §245.6, enacted in 2006 after Chico State student Matt Carrington died during a fraternity hazing ritual. It expanded criminal liability to include organizations and made felony prosecution available for injury or death.
Does the victim's consent matter?
No. The statute expressly makes consent irrelevant. Even willing pledges can be victims under PC §245.6.
Can the fraternity or sorority itself be prosecuted?
Yes. PC §245.6 uniquely allows prosecution of student organizations as entities, not just individual members.
Does PC §245.6 apply to high schools?
Yes. The statute covers any 'student organization or student body' — high schools, community colleges, universities, and private schools all qualify.
Will a hazing conviction affect my college enrollment?
Almost always. Universities pursue parallel Title IX or student-conduct investigations that can result in suspension or expulsion regardless of the criminal outcome.
Can I be sued civilly for hazing?
Yes. Civil Code §1714.10 allows the victim to sue individual participants, officers, and the sponsoring organization for damages including punitive damages.
What should I do if I'm under investigation?
Do not speak to campus police, Title IX investigators, or the DA without counsel. Preserve group chats and social media. Call Rubin Law, P.C. immediately — the first 72 hours often determine the filing decision.
Available 24/7 — Free Consultation
Facing PC §245.6 Hazing Charges in Los Angeles?
Criminal exposure, university discipline, and civil lawsuits often move in parallel. Rubin Law, P.C. defends all three fronts. Call now for a free confidential consultation.