Death threat

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Death threats
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A threatening note that was left in the mailbox of Holyoke, Massachusetts Mayor Edwin A. Seibel in 1955.

A death threat is a

manipulate their behaviour, in which case a death threat could be a form of coercion
. For example, a death threat could be used to dissuade a public figure from pursuing a criminal investigation or an advocacy campaign.

Legality

In most jurisdictions, death threats are a serious type of

criminal offence. Death threats are often covered by coercion statutes. For instance, the coercion statute in Alaska
says:

A person commits the crime of coercion if the person compels another to engage in conduct from which there is a legal right to abstain or abstain from conduct in which there is a legal right to engage, by means of instilling in the person who is compelled a fear that, if the demand is not complied with, the person who makes the demand or another may inflict physical injury on anyone....[1]

Methods

A death threat can be communicated via a wide range of media, among these letters,

e-mail. If the threat is made against a political figure, it can also be considered treason. If a threat targets a location that is frequented by people (e.g. a building), it could be a terrorist threat. Sometimes, death threats are part of a wider campaign of abuse targeting a person or a group of people (see terrorism, mass murder
).

Against a head of state

In many governments, including

death penalty, and currently the penalty is life imprisonment
.

Osman warning

Named after a high-profile case, Osman v United Kingdom, Osman warnings (also letters or notices) are warnings of a death threat or high risk of murder issued by British police or legal authorities to the possible victim. They are used when there is intelligence of the threat, but there is not enough evidence to justify the police arresting the potential murderer.[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Sec. 11.41.530. Coercion. – The Alaska Legal Resource Center". www.touchngo.com.
  2. ^ Blog death threats spark debate BBC News retrieved September 30, 2007
  3. ^ "18 U.S. Code § 871 - Threats against President and successors to the Presidency | US Law | LII / Legal Information Institute". www.law.cornell.edu. Retrieved 2015-08-13.
  4. ^ "Beds is one of nation's 'death-threat capitals' - News". Bedford Today. 2008-06-13. Retrieved 2012-04-29.[permanent dead link]

External links