Virginia statute
Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-55.1 — Hazing of youth gang members unlawful; criminal liability
Current through 2026 Regular Session
Part of Article 4: Assaults and Bodily Woundings, Code of Virginia.
Criminal charges under this statute
Full text of Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-55.1
Statutory text current through the 2026 Regular Session. This publication reproduces the text of the Code of Virginia from the official Virginia Law Portal API published by the Virginia General Assembly's Division of Legislative Automated Systems; it is not the official Code of Virginia.
It shall be unlawful to cause bodily injury by hazing (i) any member of a criminal street gang as defined in § 18.2-46.1 , or (ii) a person seeking to become a member of a youth gang or criminal street gang. Any person found guilty of hazing is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
For the purposes of this section, "hazing" means to recklessly or intentionally endanger the health or safety of a person or to inflict bodily injury on a person in connection with or for the purpose of initiation, admission into or affiliation with or as a condition for continued membership in a youth gang or criminal street gang regardless of whether the person so endangered or injured participated voluntarily in the relevant activity.
Official sources
Legal terms used in this section
Questions this section answers
Is hazing of youth gang members unlawful a felony or a misdemeanor in Virginia?
Hazing of youth gang members unlawful is a class 1 misdemeanor in Virginia under Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-55.1.
Which Virginia statute covers hazing of youth gang members unlawful?
Hazing of youth gang members unlawful is governed by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-55.1 (Hazing of youth gang members unlawful; criminal liability).
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.