{"jurisdiction": "us-ny", "code": "penal", "section": "215.17", "citation": "Penal Law § 215.17", "heading": "Intimidating a victim or witness in the first degree", "text": ["§ 215.17 Intimidating a victim or witness in the first degree.", "A person is guilty of intimidating a victim or witness in the first degree when, other than in the course of that criminal transaction or immediate flight therefrom, he:", "1. Intentionally causes serious 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 serious 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.", "Intimidating a victim or witness in the first degree is a class B felony."], "official_source": "https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PEN/215.17", "from_official_api": true, "plain_english": "A person commits first-degree witness or victim intimidation by **intentionally causing serious physical injury** outside the criminal transaction or immediate flight from it:\n- **(1)** to **block, delay, prevent, or impede** someone from giving information about the crime to a court, grand jury, prosecutor, police officer, or peace officer, or to **force someone to swear falsely**; or\n- **(2)** because someone **already gave that information** to one of those bodies or officers. ★\nThe offense is a **class B felony**.", "in_force_on": "2026-05-31", "retrieved": "2026-09-27", "url": "https://elyphived.com/us-ny/penal/215.17", "publisher": "Elyphived LLC"}