{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/18.2-60.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/18.2-60.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/18.2-60.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/18.2-60.html"}],"law_id":70858,"edition_id":1,"section_id":70858,"structure_id":13516,"section_number":"18.2-60","catch_line":"Threats of death or bodily injury to a person or member of his family; threats of death or discharge of a firearm on school property; threats of death or bodily injury to health care providers; penalties","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 18.1-257; 1960, c. 358; 1973, c. 118; 1975, cc. 14, 15; 1994, c. 265; 1998, cc. 687, 788; 2001, cc. 644, 653; 2002, cc. 588, 623; 2019, c. 506; 2020, c. 1002; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 83, 84; 2022, c. 336; 2023, c. 200; 2025, c. 588.","full_text":"A\n\n1. Any person who knowingly communicates, in a writing, including an electronically transmitted communication producing a visual or electronic message, including an email, a text message, or a message or post on any social media platform, a threat to kill or do bodily injury to a person, regardless of whether the person who is the object of the threat actually receives the threat, and the threat places such person who is the object of the threat, or any member of his family, in reasonable apprehension of death or bodily injury to himself or his family member is guilty of a Class 6 felony. However, any person who violates this subsection with the intent to commit an act of terrorism as defined in \u00a7 18.2-46.4 is guilty of a Class 5 felony.2\n\nAny person who communicates a threat orally or in a writing, including an electronically transmitted communication producing a visual or electronic message, including an email, a text message, or a message or post on any social media platform, to kill or discharge a firearm within or (i) on the grounds or premises of any elementary, middle, or secondary school property; (ii) at any elementary, middle, or secondary school-sponsored event; or (iii) on a school bus to any person or persons, regardless of whether the person who is the object of the threat actually receives the threat, and the threat would place the person who is the object of the threat, or is included in the threat, in reasonable apprehension of death or bodily harm is guilty of a Class 6 felony.3\n\nAny person 18 years of age or older who communicates a threat in writing, including an electronically transmitted communication producing a visual or electronic message such as an email, a text message, or a message or post on any social media platform, to another to kill or to do serious bodily injury to any other person and makes such threat with the intent to (i) intimidate a civilian population at large; (ii) influence the conduct or activities of a government, including the government of the United States, a state, or a locality, through intimidation; or (iii) compel the emergency evacuation, or avoidance, of any place of assembly, any building or other structure, or any means of mass transportation is guilty of a Class 5 felony. Any person younger than 18 years of age who commits such offense is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.B\n\nAny person who orally makes a threat to kill or to do bodily injury to (i) any employee of any elementary, middle, or secondary school, while on a school bus, on school property, or at a school-sponsored activity or (ii) any health care provider as defined in § 8.01-581.1 who is engaged in the performance of his duties while on the premises of any facility rendering health care as defined in § 8.01-581.1, unless the health care provider is on the premises of any facility rendering health care as defined in § 8.1-581.1 or emergency medical care as a result of an emergency custody order pursuant to § 37.2-808, involuntary temporary detention order pursuant to § 37.2-809, involuntary hospitalization order pursuant to § 37.2-817, or emergency custody order of a conditionally released acquittee pursuant to § 19.2-182.9, is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.C\n\nA prosecution pursuant to this section may be in either the county, city, or town in which the communication was made or received.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":255506,"text":"1. Any person who knowingly communicates, in a writing, including an electronically transmitted communication producing a visual or electronic message, including an email, a text message, or a message or post on any social media platform, a threat to kill or do bodily injury to a person, regardless of whether the person who is the object of the threat actually receives the threat, and the threat places such person who is the object of the threat, or any member of his family, in reasonable apprehension of death or bodily injury to himself or his family member is guilty of a Class 6 felony. However, any person who violates this subsection with the intent to commit an act of terrorism as defined in \u00a7 18.2-46.4 is guilty of a Class 5 felony.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"A2"},"1":{"id":255507,"text":"Any person who communicates a threat orally or in a writing, including an electronically transmitted communication producing a visual or electronic message, including an email, a text message, or a message or post on any social media platform, to kill or discharge a firearm within or (i) on the grounds or premises of any elementary, middle, or secondary school property; (ii) at any elementary, middle, or secondary school-sponsored event; or (iii) on a school bus to any person or persons, regardless of whether the person who is the object of the threat actually receives the threat, and the threat would place the person who is the object of the threat, or is included in the threat, in reasonable apprehension of death or bodily harm is guilty of a Class 6 felony.","type":"section","prefixes":["A","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"A2","prefix_anchor":"A2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"A3"},"2":{"id":255508,"text":"Any person 18 years of age or older who communicates a threat in writing, including an electronically transmitted communication producing a visual or electronic message such as an email, a text message, or a message or post on any social media platform, to another to kill or to do serious bodily injury to any other person and makes such threat with the intent to (i) intimidate a civilian population at large; (ii) influence the conduct or activities of a government, including the government of the United States, a state, or a locality, through intimidation; or (iii) compel the emergency evacuation, or avoidance, of any place of assembly, any building or other structure, or any means of mass transportation is guilty of a Class 5 felony. Any person younger than 18 years of age who commits such offense is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.","type":"section","prefixes":["A","3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"A3","prefix_anchor":"A3","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A2","next_prefix":"B"},"3":{"id":255509,"text":"Any person who orally makes a threat to kill or to do bodily injury to (i) any employee of any elementary, middle, or secondary school, while on a school bus, on school property, or at a school-sponsored activity or (ii) any health care provider as defined in § 8.01-581.1 who is engaged in the performance of his duties while on the premises of any facility rendering health care as defined in § 8.01-581.1, unless the health care provider is on the premises of any facility rendering health care as defined in § 8.1-581.1 or emergency medical care as a result of an emergency custody order pursuant to § 37.2-808, involuntary temporary detention order pursuant to § 37.2-809, involuntary hospitalization order pursuant to § 37.2-817, or emergency custody order of a conditionally released acquittee pursuant to § 19.2-182.9, is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A3","next_prefix":"C"},"4":{"id":255510,"text":"A prosecution pursuant to this section may be in either the county, city, or town in which the communication was made or received.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13516,"edition_id":1,"name":"Extortion and Other Threats","identifier":"6","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13100,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:45:07","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:45:07","permalink":{"id":165091,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13516,"identifier":"6","token":"18.2\/4\/6","url":"\/18.2\/4\/6\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13100,"edition_id":1,"name":"Crimes Against the Person","identifier":"4","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12972,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:17","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:17","permalink":{"id":164763,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13100,"identifier":"4","token":"18.2\/4","url":"\/18.2\/4\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12972,"edition_id":1,"name":"Crimes and Offenses Generally","identifier":"18.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:05","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:05","permalink":{"id":164139,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12972,"identifier":"18.2","token":"18.2","url":"\/18.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":72142,"structure_id":13516,"section_number":"18.2-59","catch_line":"Extortion of money, property or pecuniary benefit","url":"\/18.2-59\/","token":"18.2\/4\/6\/18.2-59","metadata":false},{"id":59217,"structure_id":13516,"section_number":"18.2-59.1","catch_line":"Sexual extortion; penalty","url":"\/18.2-59.1\/","token":"18.2\/4\/6\/18.2-59.1","metadata":false},{"id":70858,"structure_id":13516,"section_number":"18.2-60","catch_line":"Threats of death or bodily injury to a person or member of his family; threats of death or discharge of a firearm on school property; threats of death or bodily injury to health care providers; penalties","url":"\/18.2-60\/","token":"18.2\/4\/6\/18.2-60","metadata":false},{"id":66281,"structure_id":13516,"section_number":"18.2-60.1","catch_line":"Threatening the Governor or his immediate family","url":"\/18.2-60.1\/","token":"18.2\/4\/6\/18.2-60.1","metadata":false},{"id":62513,"structure_id":13516,"section_number":"18.2-60.2","catch_line":"Members of the Governor's immediate family","url":"\/18.2-60.2\/","token":"18.2\/4\/6\/18.2-60.2","metadata":false},{"id":54485,"structure_id":13516,"section_number":"18.2-60.3","catch_line":"Stalking; penalty","url":"\/18.2-60.3\/","token":"18.2\/4\/6\/18.2-60.3","metadata":false},{"id":86834,"structure_id":13516,"section_number":"18.2-60.4","catch_line":"Violation of protective orders; penalty","url":"\/18.2-60.4\/","token":"18.2\/4\/6\/18.2-60.4","metadata":false},{"id":68255,"structure_id":13516,"section_number":"18.2-60.5","catch_line":"Unauthorized use of electronic tracking device; penalty","url":"\/18.2-60.5\/","token":"18.2\/4\/6\/18.2-60.5","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":59217,"structure_id":13516,"section_number":"18.2-59.1","catch_line":"Sexual extortion; penalty","url":"\/18.2-59.1\/","token":"18.2\/4\/6\/18.2-59.1","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":66281,"structure_id":13516,"section_number":"18.2-60.1","catch_line":"Threatening the Governor or his immediate family","url":"\/18.2-60.1\/","token":"18.2\/4\/6\/18.2-60.1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/18.2-60\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 12 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1960, chapter 358; in 1973, chapter 118; in 1975, chapters 14 and 15; in 1994, chapter 265<\/a>; in 1998, chapters 687<\/a> and 788<\/a>; in 2001, chapters 644<\/a> and 653<\/a>; in 2002, chapters 588<\/a> and 623<\/a>; in 2019, chapter 506<\/a>; in 2020, chapter 1002<\/a>; in 2022, chapter 336<\/a>; in 2023, chapter 200<\/a>; in 2025, chapter 588<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":57160,"section_number":"16.1-260","catch_line":"Intake; petition; investigation","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-260\/"},{"id":61280,"section_number":"19.2-392.02","catch_line":"National criminal background checks by businesses and organizations regarding employees or volunteers providing care to children or the elderly or disabled","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-392.02\/"},{"id":74660,"section_number":"19.2-392.12","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Sealing of offenses resulting in a deferred and dismissed disposition or conviction by petition","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-392.12\/"},{"id":75182,"section_number":"37.2-314","catch_line":"Background check required","order_by":null,"url":"\/37.2-314\/"},{"id":67357,"section_number":"37.2-416.1","catch_line":"Background checks required; adult substance abuse and mental health services","order_by":null,"url":"\/37.2-416.1\/"},{"id":61726,"section_number":"37.2-506.1","catch_line":"Background checks required; adult substance abuse and mental health services","order_by":null,"url":"\/37.2-506.1\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":65851,"section_number":"18.2-46.4","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-46.4\/"},{"id":55068,"section_number":"19.2-182.9","catch_line":"Emergency custody of conditionally released acquittee","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-182.9\/"},{"id":61742,"section_number":"37.2-808","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Emergency custody; issuance and execution of order","order_by":null,"url":"\/37.2-808\/"},{"id":70156,"section_number":"37.2-809","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Involuntary temporary detention; issuance and execution of order","order_by":null,"url":"\/37.2-809\/"},{"id":61292,"section_number":"37.2-817","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Involuntary admission","order_by":null,"url":"\/37.2-817\/"},{"id":79489,"section_number":"8.01-581.1","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/8.01-581.1\/"}],"permalink":{"id":165101,"object_type":"law","relational_id":70858,"identifier":"18.2-60","token":"18.2\/4\/6\/18.2-60","url":"\/18.2-60\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/18.2-60\/","token":"18.2\/4\/6\/18.2-60","dublin_core":{"Title":"Threats of death or bodily injury to a person or member of his family; threats of death or discharge of a firearm on school property; threats of death or bodily injury to health care providers; penalties","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 18.2-60","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> 1. Any person who knowingly communicates, in a writing, including an electronically transmitted communication producing a visual or electronic message, including an email, a text message, or a message or post on any social media platform, a threat to kill or do bodily injury to a person, regardless of whether the person who is the object<\/span> of the threat actually receives the threat, and the threat places such person who is the object<\/span> of the threat, or any member of his family, in reasonable apprehension of death or bodily injury to himself or his family member is guilty of a Class 6 felony<\/span>. However, any person who violates this subsection with the intent<\/span> to commit an act of terrorism as defined in \u00a7 18.2-46.4<\/a> is guilty of a Class 5 felony<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Any person who communicates a threat orally or in a writing, including an electronically transmitted communication producing a visual or electronic message, including an email, a text message, or a message or post on any social media platform, to kill or discharge a firearm within or (i) on the grounds or premises of any elementary, middle, or secondary school property; (ii) at any elementary, middle, or secondary school-sponsored event; or (iii) on a school bus to any person or persons, regardless of whether the person who is the object<\/span> of the threat actually receives the threat, and the threat would place the person who is the object<\/span> of the threat, or is included in the threat, in reasonable apprehension of death or bodily harm is guilty of a Class 6 felony<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> Any person 18 years of age or older who communicates a threat in writing, including an electronically transmitted communication producing a visual or electronic message such as an email, a text message, or a message or post on any social media platform, to another to kill or to do serious bodily injury to any other person and makes such threat with the intent<\/span> to (i) intimidate a civilian population at large; (ii) influence the conduct or activities of a government, including the government of the United States, a state, or a locality, through intimidation; or (iii) compel the emergency evacuation, or avoidance, of any place of assembly, any building or other structure, or any means of mass transportation is guilty of a Class 5 felony<\/span>. Any person younger than 18 years of age who commits such offense<\/span> is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Any person who orally makes a threat to kill or to do bodily injury to (i) any employee of any elementary, middle, or secondary school, while on a school bus, on school property, or at a school-sponsored activity or (ii) any health care provider as defined in § 8.01-581.1<\/a> who is engaged in the performance of his duties while on the premises of any facility rendering health care as defined in § 8.01-581.1<\/a>, unless the health care provider is on the premises of any facility rendering health care as defined in § 8.1-581.1 or emergency medical care as a result of an emergency custody<\/span> order<\/span> pursuant to § 37.2-808<\/a>, involuntary temporary detention order<\/span> pursuant to § 37.2-809<\/a>, involuntary hospitalization order<\/span> pursuant to § 37.2-817<\/a>, or emergency custody<\/span> order<\/span> of a conditionally released acquittee pursuant to § 19.2-182.9<\/a>, is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> A prosecution<\/span> pursuant to this section may be in either the county, city, or town in which the communication was made or received. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nTHREATS OF DEATH OR BODILY INJURY TO A PERSON OR MEMBER OF HIS FAMILY; THREATS\nOF DEATH OR DISCHARGE OF A FIREARM ON SCHOOL PROPERTY; THREATS OF DEATH OR\nBODILY INJURY TO HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS; PENALTIES (\u00a7 18.2-60)\n\nA. 1. Any person who knowingly communicates, in a writing, including an\nelectronically transmitted communication producing a visual or electronic\nmessage, including an email, a text message, or a message or post on any social\nmedia platform, a threat to kill or do bodily injury to a person, regardless of\nwhether the person who is the object of the threat actually receives the threat,\nand the threat places such person who is the object of the threat, or any member\nof his family, in reasonable apprehension of death or bodily injury to himself\nor his family member is guilty of a Class 6 felony. However, any person who\nviolates this subsection with the intent to commit an act of terrorism as\ndefined in \u00a7 18.2-46.4 is guilty of a Class 5 felony.\n\n 2. Any person who communicates a threat orally or in a writing, including an\n electronically transmitted communication producing a visual or electronic\n message, including an email, a text message, or a message or post on any\n social media platform, to kill or discharge a firearm within or (i) on the\n grounds or premises of any elementary, middle, or secondary school property;\n (ii) at any elementary, middle, or secondary school-sponsored event; or (iii)\n on a school bus to any person or persons, regardless of whether the person who\n is the object of the threat actually receives the threat, and the threat would\n place the person who is the object of the threat, or is included in the\n threat, in reasonable apprehension of death or bodily harm is guilty of a\n Class 6 felony.\n\n 3. Any person 18 years of age or older who communicates a threat in writing,\n including an electronically transmitted communication producing a visual or\n electronic message such as an email, a text message, or a message or post on\n any social media platform, to another to kill or to do serious bodily injury\n to any other person and makes such threat with the intent to (i) intimidate a\n civilian population at large; (ii) influence the conduct or activities of a\n government, including the government of the United States, a state, or a\n locality, through intimidation; or (iii) compel the emergency evacuation, or\n avoidance, of any place of assembly, any building or other structure, or any\n means of mass transportation is guilty of a Class 5 felony. Any person younger\n than 18 years of age who commits such offense is guilty of a Class 1\n misdemeanor.\n\nB. Any person who orally makes a threat to kill or to do bodily injury to (i)\nany employee of any elementary, middle, or secondary school, while on a school\nbus, on school property, or at a school-sponsored activity or (ii) any health\ncare provider as defined in § 8.01-581.1 who is engaged in the performance\nof his duties while on the premises of any facility rendering health care as\ndefined in § 8.01-581.1, unless the health care provider is on the premises\nof any facility rendering health care as defined in § 8.1-581.1 or\nemergency medical care as a result of an emergency custody order pursuant to\n§ 37.2-808, involuntary temporary detention order pursuant to §\n37.2-809, involuntary hospitalization order pursuant to § 37.2-817, or\nemergency custody order of a conditionally released acquittee pursuant to §\n19.2-182.9, is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.\n\nC. A prosecution pursuant to this section may be in either the county, city, or\ntown in which the communication was made or received.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 18.1-257; 1960, c. 358; 1973, c. 118; 1975, cc. 14, 15;\n1994, c. 265; 1998, cc. 687, 788; 2001, cc. 644, 653; 2002, cc. 588, 623; 2019,\nc. 506; 2020, c. 1002; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 83, 84; 2022, c. 336; 2023, c.\n200; 2025, c. 588.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}