ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Phoenix, Arizona
threatening; intimidating;
criminal justice employees
Increases penalties for
threatening or intimidating a known criminal justice employee based upon that
employee’s work-related responsibilities.
In 2000 the Arizona
Department of Corrections reported 101 cases involving threatening or
intimidating criminal justice employees in the course of their duties. Under current law, threatening or
intimidating another person by word or conduct, including threats of physical
injury or serious property damage, is a class 1 misdemeanor punishable by up to
six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.
S.B. 1157 increases these penalties to a class 5 felony if the
actions are made against an employee of a criminal justice agency based upon
the employee’s work-related responsibilities.
A class 5 felony carries a presumptive term of 1.5 years in prison and a
fine of up to $150,000.
The fiscal impact of S.B.
1157 is unknown at this time.
1. Makes threatening or intimidating a criminal justice employee based on the employee’s duties a class 5 felony.
2. Defines “criminal justice agency” and makes technical changes.
3. Provides for a general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Staff
January 26, 2001