BLACKMAIL
The crime involving a threat for purposes of compelling
a person to do an act against his or her will,
or for purposes of taking the person’s money or
property.
The term blackmail originally denoted a payment
made by English persons residing along
the border of Scotland to influential Scottish
chieftains in exchange for protection from
thieves and marauders.
In blackmail the threat might consist of
physical injury to the threatened person or to
someone loved by that person, or injury to a
person’s reputation. In some cases the victim is
told that an illegal act he or she had previously
committed will be exposed if the victim fails to
comply with the demand.
Although blackmail is generally synonymous
with EXTORTION, some states distinguish
the offenses by requiring that the former be in
writing.
Blackmail is punishable by a fine, imprisonment,
or both.
CROSS-REFERENCES
Threats.
