The Failure of Zero-Tolerance Policies in Addressing Hazing

Hazing has been a persistent issue over the generations and across organization-type. For many, the default solution is zero-tolerance. Zero-tolerance was originally developed as a U.S. Customs Service Policy in 1986. Attorney Peter Nunez first issued zero-tolerance policies for federal and state agencies to seize boats and vehicles transporting illegal drugs. By 1988, zero-tolerance policies were applied to a broad range of issues and conduct. Zero-tolerance is generally intended to express the unacceptance of targeted behaviors that, if committed, will be severely punished; this is no matter how major or minor. In this article, I explore the persistence of zero-tolerance policies as a remedial measure for hazing (Part I), why it is a failed approach (Part II), and how institutions and organizations could shift to a more effective approach (Part III).