{"id":352163,"date":"2023-08-21T16:40:54","date_gmt":"2023-08-21T21:40:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/criminal\/criminal-charges\/terrorism-and-terroristic-threats.html"},"modified":"2025-11-18T15:54:27","modified_gmt":"2025-11-18T20:54:27","slug":"terrorism-and-terroristic-threats","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-charges\/terrorism-and-terroristic-threats.html","title":{"rendered":"What Are Terroristic Threats?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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What Are Terroristic Threats?<\/h1>\n\n
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\n By Lyle Therese A. Hilotin-Lee, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Laura Temme, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Terroristic threats<\/span> are communications that threaten violence with intent to cause fear, terrorize others, or disrupt public safety. Under federal and state laws, these charges can result from making bomb threats, sending threatening messages, or even verbal threats during arguments if a reasonable person would interpret them as genuine. Penalties range from misdemeanor<\/span> charges with up to one year<\/span> in jail to federal felony charges carrying up to 10 years in prison, depending on the nature of the threat.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

Federal laws prohibit terrorism and terroristic threats<\/span>. However, most people facing terrorist threat<\/span> charges are not prosecuted for terrorism itself. Instead, they face charges for making threats of violence that terrorize others or disrupt public safety.<\/p>\n

Terroristic threats<\/span> can result from scenarios that people might not know is criminal behavior, such as shouting \u201cI\u2019m going to kill you\u201d during a heated argument or calling a prank bomb threat in a theater. Although these instances may sound different from what you would hear as acts of terrorism on national headlines, terroristic threat<\/span> laws impose penalties for threats that cause fear or serious public inconvenience<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Crimes of terrorism or terroristic threats<\/span> carry severe penalties. If you or a family member is facing criminal charges related to threats of violence, it\u2019s a good idea to speak with a criminal defense lawyer<\/a>. They can help protect your rights and build a defense based on relevant state and federal laws.<\/p>\n

Understanding Terroristic Threats<\/span> vs. Acts of Terrorism<\/h2>\n

The key distinction between terroristic threats<\/span> and acts of terrorism lies in whether violence actually occurs. Most acts of terrorism would be considered a crime of violence<\/span> regardless of\u00a0intent. Examples of such acts are shootings, bombings, and other acts of violence toward a civilian population<\/span>.<\/p>\n

With terroristic threats<\/span>, both the communication and the intent matter. You do not have to actually possess a weapon or other means of carrying out the threat. The mere act of making a threat with the intent to cause fear or a reckless disregard<\/span> for others\u2019 safety can be enough to warrant criminal charges.<\/p>\n

An example of a terroristic threat<\/span> could be threatening to detonate a bomb at a school if a teacher does not comply with your request. This crime applies even if someone does not have access to explosives. Saying “I’m going to kill you” during an argument can constitute a terroristic threat<\/span> if a reasonable person would interpret it as a serious expression of intent to harm.<\/p>\n

Under the\u00a0U.S Code<\/a>, it is a crime to transmit any communication in interstate or foreign commerce if it contains a threat to kidnap or injure another person. This means that threats sent via phone, email, text message, or social media can lead to a federal charge punishable by up to five years in prison, a fine, or both.<\/p>\n

Real-World Examples of When Threats Become Crimes<\/h2>\n

Referring to something as a terroristic threat<\/span> can be misleading. For some, it evokes images of criminal activities limited to those reported on national TV. In reality, these charges could apply to everyday conflicts, online messages, or heated arguments. Most state laws also make it a crime to threaten a person with violence with the intent to cause fear or disrupt public activity. Let’s take a look at some examples.<\/p>\n

Threats During Arguments<\/h3>\n

A common scenario of a terroristic threat<\/span> is during a heated argument, when a person says, \u201cI\u2019m going to kill you.\u201d Even in cases where the person who made the statement did not intend to cause harm, it could still lead to misdemeanor<\/span> or felony charges if a reasonable person would interpret the threat as genuine.<\/p>\n

Courts examine the circumstances surrounding the case. There are state laws that address terroristic threats<\/span>, such as:<\/p>\n