Federal Crimes - Terrorism Threats

Terrorism threats, or terroristic threats, involve threats to cause a crime of violence and often involve the evacuation of premises, buildings, places of assembly; other threats are meant to cause serious public interference in an intentionally reckless manner.
Terrorism threats have increased greatly since the 9/11 acts of terrorism.

About Terrorist Threats:

“Making a terrorist threat” is a broad term that is applicable at the state and federal levels.
Terrorist threats may have numerous meanings that may be applied to various and specific situations.
Terrorist threats may be applicable to bomb threats, hate crimes and violence in general.
The meaning of terrorist threats varies according to each state’s statutes.
The meaning of terrorist threats may generally be said to include acts of violence that terrorize individuals and the public in general.

What May Be Included in a Terrorist Threat:

A specific threat to commit a crime that is likely to harm others, resulting in injury or death.
The threat was intended to be perceived as a threat.
The threat is specific and clear.
Fear was induced in the victim by the threat and the victim believed the threat could be carried out.
The threat was possible and viable.

The United States Patriot Act and Terrorism Threats:

After the terrorist acts of 9/11, the USA Patriot Act was enacted to ostensibly protect the United States from acts of terrorism.
The Patriot Act was created “To deter and punish terrorist acts in the United States and around the world, to enhance law enforcement investigatory tools, and for other purposes.”
“This Act may be cited as the ‘Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001.’

Domestic Terrorism – Patriot Act:

Domestic terrorism defined according to Sec. 802 of Patriot Act:
A. Involve acts dangerous to human life that are a violation of the criminal laws of the United States or of any State;
B. Appear to be intended
1. To intimidate or coerce a civilian population
2. To influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion; or
3. To affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination, or kidnapping; and
C. Occur primarily within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States

Delaware’s “Terroristic Threatening” Statute:

Under 11 Del. C. Sec. 621, Terroristic threatening:

A person is guilty of terroristic threatening when he or she commits any of the following:

The person threatens to commit any crime likely to result in death or in serious injury to person or property; or
The person makes a false statement or statements:

Knowing that the statements are likely to cause evacuation of a building, place of assembly or facility or public transportation; or

Knowing that the statement or statements are likely to cause serious inconvenience; or
In reckless disregard of the risk of causing terror or serious inconvenience; or
The person commits an act with intent of causing an individual to believe that the individual has been exposed to a substance that will cause the individual death or serious injury.
Penalty: Class G felony or Class A misdemeanor

Michigan Defines Act of Terrorism:

The Michigan Anti-Terrorism Act, signed into law in 2002, defines an “act of terrorism” as a “…willful and deliberate act that is a violent felony, that the person knows or has reason to know is dangerous to human life, and is intended to coerce or intimidate a civilian population or influence a government through coercion or intimidation.”
Therefore, a person is guilty of terrorism if “…he or she knowingly and with premeditation, commits an act of terrorism…”
Penalty under Michigan law for a conviction of a terrorist act is life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Useful Links:

Terrorism Threats