Editing Intimidation (section)

===United States===
"Intimidation" is the name of a criminal offence in several [[U.S. state]]s. The definitions of the crime of Intimidation differ by state.

In [[Montana]], Intimidation is defined as follows:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://leg.mt.gov/bills/mca/45/5/45-5-203.htm|title=45-5-203. Intimidation.|first=Dale|last=Matheson|website=Montana Legislative Services|access-date=September 11, 2013|archive-date=August 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200810060442/https://leg.mt.gov/bills/mca/45/5/45-5-203.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

{{quote|45-5-203. Intimidation.
:(1) A person commits the offence of intimidation when, with the purpose to cause another to perform or to omit the performance of any act, the person communicates to another, under circumstances that reasonably tend to produce a fear that it will be carried out, a threat to perform without lawful authority any of the following acts:
::(a) inflict physical harm on the person threatened or any other person;
::(b) subject any person to physical confinement or restraint; or
::(c) commit any felony.
:(2) A person commits the offence of intimidation if the person knowingly communicates a threat or false report of a pending fire, explosion, or disaster that would endanger life or property.
:(3) A person convicted of the offence of intimidation shall be imprisoned in the state prison for any term not to exceed 10 years or be fined an amount not to exceed $50,000, or both.}}

Several states have a crime called "'''ethnic intimidation'''". For instance, the law of the state of [[Michigan]] reads:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(koccjbzwql50hibj0nlh3355))/mileg.aspx?page=GetMCLDocument&objectname=mcl-750-147b|title=Michigan Legislature – Section 750.147b|website=www.legislature.mi.gov}}</ref>

{{quote|750.147b Ethnic intimidation.

Sec. 147b.
:(1) A person is guilty of ethnic intimidation if that person maliciously, and with the specific intent to intimidate or harass another person because of that person's race, colour, religion, gender, or national origin, does any of the following:
::(a) Causes physical contact with another person.
::(b) Damages, destroys or defaces any real or personal property of another person.
::(c) Threatens, by word or act, to do any act described in subdivision (a) or (b), if there is reasonable cause to believe that an act described in subdivision (a) or (b) will occur.
:(2) Ethnic intimidation is a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 2 years, or by a fine of not more than $5,000.00, or both.
:(3) Regardless of the existence or outcome of any criminal prosecution, a person who suffers an injury to his or her person or damage to his or her property as a result of ethnic intimidation may bring a civil cause of action against the person who commits the offence to secure an injunction, actual damages, including damages for emotional distress, or other appropriate relief. A plaintiff who prevails in a civil action brought according to this section may recover both of the following:
:(a) Damages in the amount of 3 times the actual damages described in this subsection or $2,000.00, whichever is greater.
:(b) Reasonable attorney fees and costs.}}

Crimes closely related to intimidation are [[menacing]], [[coercion]], terrorizing,<ref name="maine-terror">{{cite web|url=http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/statutes/17-a/title17-Asec210.html|title=Title 17-A, §210: Terrorizing|website=www.mainelegislature.org}}</ref> and [[assault]].<ref group="note" name="assault">The traditional [[common law]] definition of assault of putting the victim in fear/apprehension of harm is maintained in many states; in other states, assault is now defined as the contact itself, having replaced the traditional common law crime of [[Battery (crime)|battery]]. Further, in other states, assault may encompass both the threat and the contact. For more details, see the [[Assault]] and [[Battery (crime)|battery]] articles.</ref>

In [[California]], making criminal threats is a [[hybrid offence|wobbler]] and may be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony under California Penal Code 422.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=pen&group=00001-01000&file=422-422.4|title=California Penal Code 422|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161108133647/http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=pen&group=00001-01000&file=422-422.4|archive-date=November 8, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> A felony criminal threat is a strike under California's [[Three-strikes law|three strikes law]].