Criminal and Terroristic Threats Laws by State (2026)
How each state handles criminal threats (terroristic threats) and the penalties, from each state's code.
| State | Criminal threats (terroristic threats) |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Threatening violence is mainly charged as 'making a terrorist threat' (a credible threat to commit a violent act against a person, or to damage property, using a bomb, firearm, deadly weapon, dangerous instrument or similar means). Second degree is a Class A misdemeanor (up to 1 year), but a Class D felony (1 year and 1 day to 5 years) with a prior terrorist-threat conviction or a second offense within one year. First degree, when the threat is meant to or does disrupt a school, church, hospital, nursing home or similar building, or to intimidate someone carrying out a government function, is a Class B felony (2 to 20 years). Restitution for emergency-response costs is required, up to $10,000. Menacing (using physical action to put someone in fear of imminent serious injury) is a Class B misdemeanor (up to 6 months). Ala. Code 1975 §§ 13A-10-241, 13A-10-242, 13A-10-243, 13A-6-23; §§ 13A-5-6, 13A-5-7 |
| Alaska | Threatening someone is mainly charged as assault. Recklessly placing a person in fear of imminent physical injury by words or conduct is assault in the fourth degree, a class A misdemeanor (up to 1 year). Recklessly placing a person in fear of imminent serious physical injury with a dangerous instrument, or making repeated threats to kill or seriously injure someone intending to make them fear for themselves or their family, is assault in the third degree, a class C felony (up to 5 years). Terroristic threatening, a threat that a danger to life or property exists that causes fear of serious injury, an evacuation or serious public inconvenience, is a class C felony; sending a real or imitation biological, chemical or radiological substance that causes fear or evacuation is a class B felony (up to 10 years). AS 11.41.230, 11.41.220, 11.56.810, 11.56.807; AS 12.55.035, 12.55.125, 12.55.135 |
| Arizona | Threatening someone, called 'threatening or intimidating' in Arizona, covers threatening by word or conduct to injure a person or seriously damage property, or threatening or recklessly causing serious public inconvenience such as the evacuation of a building or transit facility. It is a class 1 misdemeanor (up to 6 months), but a class 6 felony if done in retaliation for reporting a crime (or for belonging to a crime-prevention group) or by a criminal street gang member. Threatening injury or damage to get someone to join or help a street gang or racketeering enterprise is a class 3 felony. A.R.S. § 13-1202; §§ 13-702(D), 13-707 |
| Arkansas | Threatening violence is called terroristic threatening. First degree, threatening to cause death, serious physical injury or substantial property damage with intent to terrorize, or threatening injury or property damage to a teacher or other school employee acting in the line of duty, is a Class D felony (up to 6 years). Second degree, threatening physical injury or property damage with intent to terrorize, is a Class A misdemeanor (up to 1 year). Ark. Code § 5-13-301; §§ 5-4-201, 5-4-401 |
| California | Threatening to kill or seriously injure someone is the crime of 'criminal threats.' It applies when a person willfully threatens a crime that would cause death or great bodily injury, intends the statement (spoken, written or electronic) to be taken as a threat, and the threat is so clear and immediate that it puts the victim in reasonable, sustained fear for their own or their immediate family's safety, even if the person never meant to carry it out. It is punishable by up to 1 year in county jail or by state prison, so it can be charged as a misdemeanor or felony; a felony with no stated term is 16 months, 2 or 3 years. Threatening a state constitutional officer, legislator or judge may be treated as an aggravating factor. Cal. Pen. Code 422; Pen. Code 17, 18, 19, 1170(h) |
| Colorado | Threatening to hurt someone is mainly charged as menacing: knowingly placing or trying to place another person in fear of imminent serious bodily injury by a threat or physical action. Menacing is a class 1 misdemeanor (up to 364 days), and a class 5 felony (1 to 3 years) if done with a real or fake firearm, knife or bludgeon. Threatening injury, confinement, property damage or economic harm to force someone to act is criminal extortion, a class 4 felony (2 to 6 years), or a class 3 felony if chemical, biological or radioactive agents, weapons or poison are threatened. C.R.S. §§ 18-3-206, 18-3-207; §§ 18-1.3-401, 18-1.3-501 |
| Connecticut | Connecticut calls this 'threatening.' Threatening in the second degree (by physical threat putting someone in fear of imminent serious physical injury, or threatening a crime of violence intending to terrorize or with reckless disregard of that risk) is a class A misdemeanor (up to 1 year, $2,000), raised to a class D felony (up to 5 years) when the person threatened is at a house of worship, religious community center, school, college or day care during operating hours or events. Threatening in the first degree (threatening a crime with a hazardous substance, threatening violence to cause an evacuation or serious public inconvenience, or second-degree threatening while displaying or claiming to have a firearm) is a class D felony, or a class C felony (1 to 10 years) when aimed at evacuating a house of worship, school or day care. Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 53a-61aa, 53a-62; §§ 53a-35a, 53a-36 |
| Delaware | Delaware calls this 'terroristic threatening.' Threatening to commit a crime likely to cause death, serious injury or serious property damage is a class A misdemeanor (up to 1 year), or a class G felony (up to 2 years) if the victim is 62 or older. Making a false statement (such as a bomb threat) knowing it is likely to cause the evacuation of a building, place of assembly or public transit facility is a class E felony (up to 5 years); a false statement likely to cause serious inconvenience, or made recklessly, is a class G felony, raised to class F (up to 3 years) at a school, day care or long-term care facility. Making someone believe they were exposed to a deadly substance is a class F felony. False-statement convictions also carry a mandatory $1,000 to $2,500 fine and at least 100 hours of community service; a first false-statement offense by someone 17 or younger is a class A misdemeanor. 11 Del. C. § 621; 11 Del. C. §§ 4205, 4206 |
| District of Columbia | Threatening to kidnap or injure a person, or to damage someone's property, is a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $50,000. A separate misdemeanor, threats to do bodily harm, carries up to 6 months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000, and the court may also require a peace bond of up to one year. D.C. Code §§ 22-1810, 22-407, 22-3571.01 |
| Florida | Sending, posting or transmitting a written or electronic threat (such as a text, social media post or email) to kill or seriously harm someone, or to carry out a mass shooting or act of terrorism, is a second-degree felony (up to 15 years, $10,000). Maliciously threatening someone's person, property or reputation (or threatening to accuse them of a crime or expose a secret) to extort money or force them to act is also a second-degree felony, raised to first degree if done as a foreign agent for a foreign country of concern. Fla. Stat. §§ 836.10, 836.05; §§ 775.082, 775.083 |
| Georgia | Terroristic threats (threatening a crime of violence, release of a hazardous substance, or burning or damaging property, intending to terrorize someone or cause an evacuation or serious public inconvenience, or recklessly) are generally a misdemeanor, but a felony with 1 to 5 years and up to a $1,000 fine when the threat suggested the person would be killed; a conviction cannot rest only on the uncorroborated testimony of the person threatened. Terroristic acts (such as shooting at an occupied vehicle, or using a burning cross to terrorize) carry 1 to 10 years and up to $5,000, or 5 to 40 years and up to $250,000 if someone suffers serious physical injury. A threat or act made to retaliate against or intimidate a witness, judge, attorney or person who reported a crime carries 5 to 20 years and a fine of at least $50,000. O.C.G.A. § 16-11-37; § 17-10-3 |
| Hawaii | Hawaii calls this 'terroristic threatening': threatening by word or conduct to injure someone, seriously damage their property or pets, or commit a felony, intending to terrorize (or recklessly) or to cause an evacuation. It is first degree, a class C felony (5 years), when the person threatens someone repeatedly or several people in a common scheme, threatens a public servant (including school workers) over their official duties or an on-duty emergency medical worker, uses a dangerous instrument or simulated firearm, or threatens someone protected by a court or police order; it is a class B felony (10 years) with a real or simulated firearm in certain listed places. Other terroristic threatening is second degree, a misdemeanor (up to 1 year). HRS §§ 707-715, 707-716, 707-717; §§ 706-660, 706-663 |
| Idaho | In Idaho, threatening violence in person falls under assault, which includes an intentional, unlawful threat by word or act to do violence, with apparent ability, that creates a well-founded fear of imminent violence. Simple assault is a misdemeanor (up to 3 months in jail, a fine up to $1,000, or both); aggravated assault (with a deadly weapon, by force likely to cause great bodily harm, or with acid or caustic chemicals) is a felony punishable by up to 5 years in prison, a fine up to $5,000, or both. Threatening injury by phone, email, text or other electronic communication is a misdemeanor (up to 1 year in jail), and a felony (up to 5 years) on a second or later conviction. Threatening to kill or injure a state elected official, judge, or county or city elected official is a misdemeanor (up to 1 year and $1,000), and a felony if a weapon is displayed or on a repeat conviction. Idaho Code §§ 18-901, 18-902, 18-905, 18-906, 18-6710(1), 18-1353A |
| Illinois | Illinois has no single 'criminal threats' crime; threats are covered by several offenses. Assault (knowingly making someone reasonably fear being hit) is a Class C misdemeanor (up to 30 days) with 30 to 120 hours of community service. Aggravated assault (for example using a deadly weapon, targeting certain protected people, or wearing a mask) is usually a Class A misdemeanor (under 1 year), but it is a Class 4 felony (1 to 3 years) in some cases such as discharging a firearm, and a Class 3 felony (2 to 5 years) for discharging a firearm from a motor vehicle. Threatening a public official or human service provider with bodily harm, sexual assault, confinement or property damage, because of their duties, is a Class 3 felony for a first offense and a Class 2 felony (3 to 7 years) for a repeat offense. Making a terrorist threat meant to intimidate or coerce a significant portion of a civilian population is a Class X felony (6 to 30 years). 720 ILCS 5/12-1, 5/12-2(c), (d), 5/12-9(c), 5/29D-20; 730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-25 to -65 |
| Indiana | Indiana's threat crime is intimidation: communicating a threat (for example to injure someone, damage property, confine someone, or commit a crime) intending to make a person act against their will, to retaliate for a prior lawful act, to cause an evacuation, or to place the person in fear the threat will be carried out. It is a Class A misdemeanor (up to 1 year). It is a Level 6 felony (6 months to 2 1/2 years) if the threat is to commit a forcible felony, targets a witness in a pending case, relates to the person's job, is a repeat against the same victim, or is sent using school or government property; and a Level 5 felony (1 to 6 years) if the person draws or uses a deadly weapon, the target is a judge, bailiff, prosecutor or legislator because of their role, or the threat involves terrorism. Posting someone's personal information intending that they be harmed or a crime be committed against them also counts as a threat. IC 35-45-2-1; IC 35-50-2-4 to -7, 35-50-3-2 to -4 |
| Iowa | Iowa treats most threats as assault or harassment. Assault includes an act meant to put someone in fear of immediate painful or offensive contact, or pointing a firearm or displaying a dangerous weapon in a threatening way; it is a simple misdemeanor (up to 30 days) unless aggravated, and an aggravated misdemeanor (up to 2 years) when a dangerous weapon is used or displayed. Harassment involving a threat to commit a forcible felony is first-degree harassment, an aggravated misdemeanor; a threat to commit bodily injury is second-degree harassment, a serious misdemeanor (up to 1 year). Threatening to place a bomb, incendiary or destructive device where it will endanger people or property, and a threat of terrorism that causes reasonable fear, are class D felonies (up to 5 years and a fine of $1,025 to $10,245). Iowa Code §§ 708.1, 708.2, 708.7(2)-(3), 712.8, 708A.5, 902.9, 903.1 |
| Kansas | A criminal threat is a threat to commit violence made to put someone in fear, or to cause the evacuation, lockdown or disruption of a building, place of assembly or transportation facility (or made in reckless disregard of that risk); threats to contaminate food, drugs or water supplies, or to expose animals to a contagious disease, are also covered. A criminal threat is a severity level 9 person felony. It becomes aggravated criminal threat, a severity level 5 person felony, when a public, commercial or industrial building, place of assembly or transportation facility is actually evacuated, locked down or disrupted because of the threat. A statement claiming to have already done one of these acts also counts as a threat. Felony prison ranges come from the sentencing grid, which combines the severity level with criminal history. K.S.A. 21-5415, 21-6804 |
| Kentucky | Kentucky calls threats of violence 'terroristic threatening.' Third degree (threatening any crime likely to cause death or serious physical injury, or substantial property damage, to another person, or making false statements to cause evacuation of a building or transit facility) is a Class A misdemeanor (up to 12 months). Second degree (threatening an act likely to cause death or serious injury at a school function, place of worship, workplace, public event or gathering of three or more people, false school-violence statements meant to cause evacuation or fear, or false claims of planting a weapon of mass destruction) is a Class D felony (1 to 5 years), raised to a Class C felony when the person also takes substantial steps to prepare or carry out the threat. First degree (false claims of a weapon of mass destruction at a school, government building, workplace, domestic violence shelter or gathering, or placing a counterfeit one) is a Class C felony (5 to 10 years). Menacing (intentionally putting someone in reasonable fear of imminent physical injury) is a Class B misdemeanor (up to 90 days). KRS 508.075, 508.078, 508.080, 508.050, 532.060, 532.090 |
| Louisiana | Making threats of violence that frighten the public is called terrorizing or menacing in Louisiana. Terrorizing is intentionally communicating that a crime of violence or a danger to life is imminent or in progress, intending to cause sustained public fear, an evacuation of a building or transit facility, or other serious public disruption; it carries a fine up to $15,000, up to 15 years with or without hard labor, or both (5 to 15 years at hard labor without parole, probation or suspension if aimed at school property, a school function or a firearm-free zone). Menacing is the same communication made without that intent but where a reasonable person would have known it could cause fear, evacuation or disruption; it carries a fine up to $1,000, up to 2 years with or without hard labor, or both (2 to 5 years if aimed at a school or firearm-free zone). La. R.S. 14:40.1 |
| Maine | Criminal threatening (intentionally or knowingly placing another person in fear of imminent bodily injury) is a Class D crime, punishable by less than 1 year and up to $2,000. Terrorizing (communicating a threat to commit a crime of violence dangerous to human life, consciously disregarding the risk that it will put someone in reasonable fear) is also a Class D crime, but it is Class C (up to 5 years and $5,000) when the threat risks causing the evacuation of a building, place of assembly or public transport facility, or a lockdown. Domestic violence versions of both crimes are separate offenses. 17-A M.R.S. §§ 209, 210; 17-A M.R.S. §§ 1604(1), 1704 |
| Maryland | Maryland's general threat crime is making a threat of mass violence: knowingly threatening, orally, in writing or electronically, to commit a crime of violence that would put five or more people at substantial risk of death or serious physical injury. It is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 10 years, a fine up to $10,000, or both, and the court must order repayment of government response costs unless it explains why not. Knowingly and willfully threatening to kill, kidnap or injure a State or local elected official, a deputy or assistant State's Attorney, or an assistant Public Defender is a misdemeanor with up to 3 years, a fine up to $2,500, or both. Md. Code, Crim. Law §§ 3-1001, 3-708 |
| Massachusetts | Threatening to commit a crime against another person or their property is the misdemeanor of threat to commit a crime, punishable by a fine up to $100 or up to six months, or the court may instead order the person to post a bond to keep the peace for up to six months. Communicating a threat (in person, by phone, email, internet or otherwise) that a firearm, bomb, dangerous chemical or biological agent or other deadly device will be used or is present somewhere, or threatening to hijack an aircraft, ship or common carrier, is a felony with up to 20 years in state prison or 2½ years in a house of correction and/or a fine up to $10,000. If the threat causes an evacuation or serious disruption of a school, building, event or public transport, the penalty is 3 to 20 years in state prison (or 6 months to 2½ years in a house of correction) and/or a $1,000 to $50,000 fine, plus mandatory restitution of response costs. Mass. G.L. c. 275, §§ 2, 4; G.L. c. 269, § 14 |
| Michigan | Threatening to commit an act of terrorism and communicating the threat to anyone, or knowingly making a false report of terrorism, is a felony punishable by up to 20 years, a fine up to $20,000, or both. It is not a defense that the person did not intend to, or could not, carry out the threat. MCL 750.543m |
| Minnesota | Threatening, directly or indirectly, to commit a crime of violence with the purpose of terrorizing another person, or of causing an evacuation of a building, place of assembly, vehicle or public transit facility or other serious public inconvenience, or in reckless disregard of that risk, is the crime of threats of violence, punishable by up to 5 years and/or a $10,000 fine. Communicating, to terrorize or with reckless disregard, that a bomb or incendiary device is at a named place (whether or not it is) carries up to 3 years and/or $3,000. Displaying a replica firearm or BB gun in a threatening way to cause terror carries up to 1 year and 1 day and/or $3,000. Minn. Stat. § 609.713 |
| Mississippi | Threatening a crime of violence or bodily injury in a way that causes a reasonable fear of an imminent offense, with intent to intimidate or coerce the public or to influence a government unit, school or business, is called a terroristic threat. It is a felony punishable by up to 10 years in the custody of the Department of Corrections, even if the person could not or did not mean to carry out the threat. Sending or leaving a threatening letter or notice to terrorize or intimidate someone is punished by up to 6 months in the county jail, a fine up to $500, or both. Miss. Code Ann. §§ 97-7-75, 97-3-85 |
| Missouri | Missouri's threat crimes are called making a terrorist threat. Knowingly communicating a threat (or false report) of danger to life with the purpose of frightening 10 or more people or causing a building, gathering place or transit facility to be evacuated or closed is first degree, a class D felony (up to 7 years). Doing so while recklessly disregarding that risk is second degree, a class E felony (up to 4 years), and with criminal negligence is third degree, a class A misdemeanor (up to 1 year and $2,000). Threats aimed at one person may instead be charged as harassment; first-degree harassment (an act meant to and that does cause emotional distress) is a class E felony. RSMo §§ 574.115, 574.120, 574.125, 565.090, 558.011, 558.002 |
| Montana | Threatening someone to make them do or not do something (called intimidation) means communicating a threat to inflict physical harm, confine or restrain someone, or commit any felony, in circumstances that reasonably make the person fear it will be carried out. Knowingly communicating a threat or false report of a pending fire, explosion or disaster that would endanger life or property is also intimidation. It is punishable by up to 10 years in state prison, a fine up to $50,000, or both. MCA 45-5-203 |
| Nebraska | Threatening to commit any crime of violence with intent to terrorize another person, with intent to cause the evacuation of a building, place of assembly or public transportation facility, or in reckless disregard of the risk of causing such terror or evacuation, is called terroristic threats. It is a Class IIIA felony, punishable by up to 3 years in prison plus 18 months of post-release supervision, a $10,000 fine, or both. Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 28-311.01, 28-105 |
| Nevada | Threatening to cause someone bodily injury in the future, to damage their property, to confine or restrain them, or to substantially harm their physical or mental health or safety, when the words or conduct put the person in reasonable fear the threat will be carried out, is called harassment. A first offense is a misdemeanor (up to 6 months and/or $1,000), and a second or later offense is a gross misdemeanor (up to 364 days and/or $2,000), unless the stalking statute's felony provisions apply. NRS 200.571; NRS 193.130, 193.140, 193.150 |
| New Hampshire | Criminal threatening covers placing someone in fear of imminent bodily injury by physical conduct, threatening a crime against a person or property to terrorize or coerce, and threatening violence (or a biological or chemical substance) to cause an evacuation or serious public inconvenience. It is a class B felony (up to 7 years) when the threat is meant to cause an evacuation or public inconvenience, or when a deadly weapon is used; all other criminal threatening is a misdemeanor. A person who displays a firearm to warn away someone making a threat a reasonable person would see as likely to cause serious injury or death does not commit this crime. RSA 631:4, 651:2 |
| New Jersey | Terroristic threats: threatening to commit any crime of violence intending to terrorize someone or to cause the evacuation of a building or public place or other serious public inconvenience (or recklessly disregarding that risk) is a crime of the third degree (3-5 years, up to $15,000), raised to second degree (5-10 years) if done during a declared national, State or county emergency. Threatening to kill someone, intending to put them in imminent fear of death under circumstances that make the threat believable, is also a third-degree crime. N.J.S. 2C:12-3; N.J.S. 2C:43-3, 2C:43-6 |
| New Mexico | New Mexico has no general 'criminal threats' crime; threats are covered by several offenses. Assault, including any unlawful act, threat or menacing conduct that makes someone reasonably believe they are about to be hit, is a petty misdemeanor (up to 6 months). Aggravated assault (assaulting or striking at someone with a deadly weapon, or threatening or menacing someone while masked or disguised) is a fourth degree felony (18 months). Threatening a judge or a judge's immediate family to cause fear of great bodily harm, interfere with the judge's duties or retaliate is a fourth degree felony. Making a bomb scare, or a shooting threat that causes fear of great bodily harm, disrupts a public building or triggers an emergency response, is a fourth degree felony, and the court may order repayment of the victim's economic harm. Threatening injury by telephone is a misdemeanor, or a fourth degree felony for a repeat. NMSA 1978, 30-3-1, 30-3-2(A), (B), 30-3-19, 30-20-16, 30-20-12; NMSA 1978, 31-18-15, 31-19-1 |
| New York | New York's main threat offenses are 'menacing.' Menacing in the third degree (by physical menace, intentionally placing someone in fear of death, serious injury or physical injury) is a class B misdemeanor (up to 3 months). Menacing in the second degree (displaying a deadly weapon, dangerous instrument or what appears to be a firearm to cause such fear, repeatedly following or harassing someone to cause such fear, or menacing in violation of an order of protection) is a class A misdemeanor (up to 364 days). Menacing in the first degree (second-degree menacing with a prior menacing conviction within 10 years) is a class E felony (up to 4 years). Making a terroristic threat (threatening a specified offense to intimidate a civilian population or influence government, causing reasonable fear it will happen) is a class D felony (up to 7 years). N.Y. Penal Law 120.15, 120.14, 120.13, 490.20 |
| North Carolina | Communicating threats (willfully threatening to physically injure a person or their child, sibling, spouse or dependent, or to damage their property, in a way a reasonable person would believe is likely to be carried out, when the person does believe it) is a Class 1 misdemeanor. Threatening by any means to commit an act of mass violence on educational property or at a school-sponsored activity is a Class H felony. N.C. Gen. Stat. 14-277.1, 14-277.6 |
| North Dakota | Terrorizing (threatening a crime of violence or an act dangerous to human life, or falsely reporting that such danger is imminent, intending to put someone in fear for their safety or to cause an evacuation or serious public disruption, or recklessly disregarding that risk) is a class C felony (up to 5 years and $10,000). Menacing (knowingly placing or trying to place someone in fear of imminent serious bodily injury) is a class A misdemeanor (up to 360 days). Threatening harm to a public servant to influence official action is a separate class C felony. N.D.C.C. 12.1-17-04, 12.1-17-05, 12.1-12-06; 12.1-32-01 |
| Ohio | Aggravated menacing (knowingly causing someone to believe you will cause serious physical harm to them, their unborn child, their property or an immediate family member) is a first-degree misdemeanor (up to 180 days), raised to a felony when the victim is a children-services worker acting in that role. Menacing (causing someone to believe you will cause physical harm) is a fourth-degree misdemeanor (up to 30 days), raised to a first-degree misdemeanor or fourth-degree felony when aimed at an emergency service responder or children-services worker. Making a terroristic threat (threatening a specified offense to intimidate a civilian population or influence or affect a government, causing reasonable fear it will happen) is a third-degree felony. R.C. 2903.21, 2903.22, 2909.23 |
| Oklahoma | Threatening to commit an act of violence involving serious bodily harm or death of another person is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 6 months in county jail. Attempting, conspiring or endeavoring to commit such an act of violence, or devising a plan or scheme to cause serious bodily harm or death with intent to carry it out, is a Class B4 felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison. 21 O.S. § 1378 |
| Oregon | Oregon calls threatening violence 'menacing': by words or conduct intentionally trying to make another person fear imminent serious physical injury. Menacing is a Class A misdemeanor (up to 364 days in jail and a fine of up to $6,250). If it is committed against a family or household member, the judgment must note that the conviction constitutes domestic violence. ORS 163.190; ORS 161.615, 161.635 |
| Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania calls this 'terroristic threats': communicating, directly or indirectly, a threat to commit a crime of violence intending to terrorize someone, or a threat to cause evacuation of a building, place of assembly or public transit facility, or otherwise to cause serious public inconvenience (or recklessly risking such terror or inconvenience). It is a first-degree misdemeanor (up to 5 years and $10,000), but a third-degree felony (up to 7 years and $15,000) if the threat causes the occupants of a building, place of assembly or transit facility to be diverted from their normal operations. The court must also order restitution for the cost of any evacuation. 18 Pa.C.S. § 2706; 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 1103, 1104 |
| Rhode Island | Rhode Island's threat crimes are in its 'Threats and Extortion' chapter. Maliciously threatening, verbally or in writing, to injure someone's person, reputation, property or finances, or to accuse them of a crime, or to commit other criminal conduct, in order to extort money or an unlawful advantage, force someone to act against their will, or stop someone from carrying out a legal duty, is punishable by up to 15 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $25,000. Knowingly threatening to kill or injure a public official (including judges, prosecutors and police) or their immediate family because of the official's duties or position is a felony punishable by up to 5 years and/or $5,000; a similar threat against an election official is a misdemeanor (up to 1 year and/or $1,000). R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 11-42-2, 11-42-4 |
| South Carolina | South Carolina's main threat statute protects public officials and employees: threatening the life of, or bodily harm to, a public official, teacher, principal or public employee (or certain family members) is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $5,000 under subsection (A), and a lesser form under subsection (B) by up to 30 days and/or $500. Threatening a vulnerable adult who is the subject of a report, or a witness in such a case, is covered separately. S.C. Code §§ 16-3-1040, 16-3-1050(G) |
| South Dakota | South Dakota treats a threat of violence as assault: trying by physical menace or a credible threat to put another person in fear of imminent bodily harm (whether or not the person could actually carry it out) is simple assault, a Class 1 misdemeanor (up to 1 year and/or $2,000). A third simple or aggravated assault conviction within ten years is a Class 6 felony, a fourth a Class 5 felony, and a fifth or later a Class 4 felony. Threats against judicial officers, jurors, law enforcement officers and elected officials are separate offenses in the obstruction chapter. SDCL 22-18-1; SDCL 22-11-15 to 22-11-15.8; SDCL 22-6-1, 22-6-2 |
| Tennessee | Threats are mainly charged in Tennessee as assault or harassment. Intentionally or knowingly causing someone to reasonably fear imminent bodily injury is assault, a Class A misdemeanor (up to 11 months, 29 days). It becomes aggravated assault, a Class C felony (3 to 15 years), when it involves the use or display of a deadly weapon. Intentionally communicating a threat of harm (in person, by phone, text, email or social media) that the sender means as a threat and a reasonable person would see as one is harassment, a Class A misdemeanor; it is a Class E felony (1 to 6 years) for a convicted person who, while incarcerated or on diversion, probation or parole, threatens the victim in person. Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 39-13-101(a)(2), (b); 39-13-102(a)(1)(A)(iii), (d)(1); 39-17-308; § 40-35-111 |
| Texas | Texas calls this a terroristic threat: threatening to commit any violent offense against a person or property with intent to cause an emergency response, put someone in fear of imminent serious bodily injury, disrupt use of a building or public place, interrupt public services, put the public in fear, or influence government. Threatening a person with imminent serious injury is a Class B misdemeanor (up to 180 days and $2,000), a Class A misdemeanor if against a family or household member or a public servant, and a state jail felony if against a peace officer or judge. Disrupting a building or public place is a Class A misdemeanor, or a state jail felony if it causes $1,500 or more in loss; threats that interrupt public services, put the public in fear, or aim to influence government are third-degree felonies (2 to 10 years). Tex. Penal Code § 22.07; §§ 12.21-12.35 |
| Utah | Utah calls this a threat of violence: threatening to commit a sexual offense or an offense involving bodily injury, death or substantial property damage, intending to make someone fear it will happen imminently, or threatening bodily injury along with a show of immediate force. It is a class B misdemeanor (up to 6 months and $1,000), punished in addition to any act carried out, and it is no defense that the person could not or did not try to carry out the threat. Separate laws cover threats against schools, terrorism, threats to influence official action, and threats against judges, elected officials and child welfare workers, which carry higher grades. Utah Code §§ 76-5-107, 76-5-107.1, 76-5-107.3, 76-8-104, 76-8-313, 76-8-316; § 76-3-204 |
| Vermont | Criminal threatening is knowingly threatening another person or a group of particular persons by words or conduct in a way that puts someone in reasonable fear of death, serious bodily injury or sexual assault; constitutionally protected activity is excluded. It is punishable by up to one year in prison and a $1,000 fine. The maximum rises to two years and $2,000 if the threat is meant to stop someone from reporting child abuse; concerns a school, college, library, place of worship, polling place, the State House or a government building; aims to intimidate or retaliate against a candidate, public servant, election official or public employee; or targets a health care or emergency medical worker over their work. 13 V.S.A. § 1702 |
| Virginia | Knowingly communicating in writing (including email, text or social media) a threat to kill or injure someone that puts them or a family member in reasonable fear is a Class 6 felony (1 to 5 years, or up to 12 months in jail and/or $2,500), or a Class 5 felony if meant as an act of terrorism. Threatening, orally or in writing, to kill or to fire a gun at a school, school event or school bus is also a Class 6 felony. A written threat to kill or seriously injure meant to intimidate the public, influence government, or force an evacuation is a Class 5 felony for an adult (Class 1 misdemeanor under 18). Oral threats to kill or injure school employees at school or health care providers at work are Class 1 misdemeanors (up to 12 months and/or $2,500). Va. Code § 18.2-60; §§ 18.2-10, 18.2-11 |
| Washington | Washington charges threats mainly as harassment: knowingly threatening, without lawful authority, to injure someone now or later, damage another person's property, confine or restrain someone, or otherwise substantially harm their health or safety, when words or conduct (including electronic messages) put the person in reasonable fear the threat will be carried out. It is a gross misdemeanor (up to 364 days and $5,000). It becomes a class C felony (up to 5 years) if the threat is to kill, if the person has a prior harassment conviction involving the same victim or family or someone named in a no-contact order, or if the target is a criminal justice participant or election official threatened over their official duties. RCW 9A.46.020; RCW 9A.20.021 |
| West Virginia | West Virginia does not have a single general 'criminal threats' or 'menacing' offense in the sections reviewed; threats are covered by several specific laws. Threatening to commit a terrorist act (an act likely to cause serious injury or property damage meant to intimidate the public or coerce government) is a felony: 1 to 3 years, a $5,000 to $25,000 fine, or both, with restitution. Carrying or brandishing a firearm or other deadly weapon in a way that threatens a breach of the peace is a misdemeanor: 90 days to 1 year in jail, a $50 to $1,000 fine, or both. Threatening injury to obtain something of value (extortion) is a felony of 1 to 10 years, or 1 to 3 years and a $1,000 to $5,000 fine (or both) if nothing is obtained; threatening to kidnap to extort a ransom carries at least 5 years. W. Va. Code §§ 61-6-24(b), 61-7-11, 61-2-13, 61-2-14c |
| Wisconsin | Terrorist threats (threatening death, bodily harm or property damage intending to cause an evacuation, public panic, public inconvenience, or disruption of government or public services, or knowingly creating a substantial risk of that) is a Class I felony: up to 3 years and 6 months, a fine up to $10,000, or both; it is a Class G felony (up to 10 years) if it contributes to someone's death. Threatening to cause bodily harm is a Class H felony (up to 6 years, a fine up to $10,000, or both) when the target is, among others, a current or former judge, prosecutor, police officer, juror, witness, probation or parole agent, health care provider or worker, or certain state agency employee, or their family, in response to their official actions. Threatening injury or harm by email or other computerized communication to frighten or harass is a Class B misdemeanor (up to 90 days, a fine up to $1,000, or both). Wis. Stat. §§ 947.019, 947.016, 947.0125(2), 939.50(3), 939.51(3) |
| Wyoming | A terroristic threat (threatening to commit any violent felony intending to cause the evacuation of a building, place of assembly or public transit facility, or otherwise to cause serious public inconvenience, or recklessly risking that) is a felony punishable by up to 3 years. Blackmail (threatening bodily injury or property damage, or threatening to accuse someone of a crime or disgraceful conduct, to get property or force someone to act) is a felony punishable by up to 10 years, or 5 to 25 years as aggravated blackmail if someone is injured. W.S. 6-2-505, 6-2-402 |
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.