{"jurisdiction": "us-ny", "code": "penal", "section": "215.16", "citation": "Penal Law § 215.16", "heading": "Intimidating a victim or witness in the second degree", "text": ["§ 215.16 Intimidating a victim or witness in the second degree.", "A person is guilty of intimidating a victim or witness in the second degree when, other than in the course of that criminal transaction or immediate flight therefrom, he:", "1. Intentionally causes physical injury to another person for the purpose of obstructing, delaying, preventing or impeding the communication by such other person or another person of information relating to a criminal transaction to any court, grand jury, prosecutor, police officer or peace officer or for the purpose of compelling such other person or another person to swear falsely; or", "2. Intentionally causes physical injury to another person on account of such other person or another person having communicated information relating to a criminal transaction to any court, grand jury, prosecutor, police officer or peace officer; or", "3. Recklessly causes physical injury to another person by intentionally damaging the property of such other person or another person, for the purpose of obstructing, delaying, preventing or impeding such other person or another person from communicating, or on account of such other person or another person having communicated, information relating to a criminal transaction to any court, grand jury, prosecutor, police officer or peace officer.", "Intimidating a victim or witness in the second degree is a class D felony."], "official_source": "https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PEN/215.16", "from_official_api": true, "plain_english": "A person commits second-degree witness or victim intimidation outside the criminal transaction or immediate flight from it by:\n- **(1)** **intentionally causing physical injury** to block, delay, prevent, or impede someone from reporting information about the crime to a court, grand jury, prosecutor, police officer, or peace officer, or to **force someone to swear falsely**;\n- **(2)** **intentionally causing physical injury** because someone already reported that information; or\n- **(3)** **intentionally damaging property** and thereby **recklessly causing physical injury**, to stop or punish such a report. ★\nThe offense is a **class D felony**.", "in_force_on": "2026-05-31", "retrieved": "2026-09-27", "url": "https://elyphived.com/us-ny/penal/215.16", "publisher": "Elyphived LLC"}