New York statute
N.Y. Penal Law § 135.65 — Coercion in the first degree
Current through 2026 legislative session (LBDC text via OpenLegislation as of 2026-07-17)
Part of Article 135: Kidnapping, Coercion and Related Offenses, New York Penal Law.
Criminal charges under this statute
Full text of N.Y. Penal Law § 135.65
Statutory text current through the 2026 legislative session (LBDC text via OpenLegislation as of 2026-07-17). This publication reproduces the text of the Consolidated Laws of New York as provided by the New York State Senate's Open Legislation service (Legislative Bill Drafting Commission statutory text); it is not the official statutes of the State of New York.
135.65 Coercion in the first degree.
A person is guilty of coercion in the first degree when he or she
commits the crime of coercion in the third degree, and when:
1. He or she commits such crime by instilling in the victim a fear
that he or she will cause physical injury to a person or cause damage to
property; or
2. He or she thereby compels or induces the victim to:
(a) Commit or attempt to commit a felony; or
(b) Cause or attempt to cause physical injury to a person; or
(c) Violate his or her duty as a public servant.
Coercion in the first degree is a class D felony.
Official sources
Legal terms used in this section
Questions this section answers
What class of felony is coercion in the first degree in New York?
Coercion in the first degree is a Class D Felony in New York under N.Y. Penal Law § 135.65.
Which New York statute covers coercion in the first degree?
Coercion in the first degree is governed by N.Y. Penal Law § 135.65 (Coercion in the first degree).
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.