What is required for an act to be categorized as criminal threatening?

For an act to be categorized as criminal threatening, there must be an imminent or immediate threat to another person. This means that the threat is serious enough to cause the victim to fear for their safety or for the safety of others. The key element is the immediacy of the threat; it conveys a sense of urgency and likelihood that the threatening action could occur.

In contrast, a distant threat that lacks immediacy may not provoke the same level of fear or concern, and therefore, it does not satisfy the criteria for criminal threatening. Similarly, threats made in jest or those that are vague do not convey a clear intent or the immediacy necessary for the act to be categorized as criminal threatening. The legal framework aims to address genuine threats that can lead to harm, highlighting the importance of the potential for immediate danger in understanding criminal threatening behavior.