Legal Question in Criminal Law in New York

death threats

i was angry at my roomate when he would not listen to me tell him off and confront him. i got so angry that i put my aggrivations on paper and gave it to him. i had to get his attention some way.

what he did was turn my letter into authority at the school. The school considers what i wrote to be a death threat and suspended me from the dorms.

my question, what has to be in a letter for federal law to consider it a death threat?


Asked on 10/20/08, 11:20 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys
Robert Reuland Law Offices of Robert C. Reuland, P.C.

Re: death threats

pls be more specific.

did you threaten him (i.e., i'm gonna kill you) or simply "put your aggravations on paper" (i.e., i wish you wouldn't wear my socks).

also, you were not charged, correct? you do not expect to be charged? has someone insinuated that you would be charged? has the matter been referred to the police or campus security?

i'm guessing this was a purely school matter, correct? no local cops got involved?

understandably schools are concerned about students who threaten other students. they probably have the right to remove you from the dorms for conduct short of criminal conduct if they deem your conduct threatening in some manner; you should check whatever agreement you signed with the school relative to your taking up residence in the dorm.

if you think they overreacted, you may have an opportunity to get them to reconsider. it all depends on what you wrote. i'm guessing it wasn't too egregious, else they would have suspended you from school and called the cops.

Read more
Answered on 10/20/08, 11:34 pm
Robert Reuland Law Offices of Robert C. Reuland, P.C.

Re: death threats

pls be more specific.

did you threaten him (i.e., i'm gonna kill you) or simply "put your aggravations on paper" (i.e., i wish you wouldn't wear my socks).

also, you were not charged, correct? you do not expect to be charged? has someone insinuated that you would be charged? has the matter been referred to the police or campus security?

i'm guessing this was a purely school matter, correct? no local cops got involved?

understandably schools are concerned about students who threaten other students. they probably have the right to remove you from the dorms for conduct short of criminal conduct if they deem your conduct threatening in some manner; you should check whatever agreement you signed with the school relative to your taking up residence in the dorm.

if you think they overreacted, you may have an opportunity to get them to reconsider. it all depends on what you wrote. i'm guessing it wasn't too egregious, else they would have suspended you from school and called the cops.

Read more
Answered on 10/20/08, 11:34 pm


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