{"jurisdiction": "us-ny", "code": "penal", "section": "215.13", "citation": "Penal Law § 215.13", "heading": "Tampering with a witness in the first degree", "text": ["§ 215.13 Tampering with a witness in the first degree.", "A person is guilty of tampering with a witness in the first degree when:", "1. He intentionally causes serious physical injury to a person for the purpose of obstructing, delaying, preventing or impeding the giving of testimony in a criminal proceeding by such person or another person or for the purpose of compelling such person or another person to swear falsely; or", "2. He intentionally causes serious physical injury to a person on account of such person or another person having testified in a criminal proceeding.", "Tampering with a witness in the first degree is a class B felony."], "official_source": "https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PEN/215.13", "from_official_api": true, "plain_english": "A person commits first-degree witness tampering by **intentionally causing serious physical injury**:\n- **(1)** to **block, delay, prevent, or impede** testimony in a criminal proceeding, or to **force someone to swear falsely**; or\n- **(2)** because that person or someone else **already testified** in a criminal proceeding. ★\nThe offense is a **class B felony**.", "in_force_on": "2026-05-31", "retrieved": "2026-09-27", "url": "https://elyphived.com/us-ny/penal/215.13", "publisher": "Elyphived LLC"}