Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Crimes Act 1961

Crimes against rights of property - Robbery and blackmail

238: Punishment of blackmail

You could also call this:

“If you try to blackmail someone, you could go to jail for up to 14 years.”

If you commit blackmail, you can go to prison for up to 14 years. Blackmail is a serious crime that the law takes very seriously. The judge can decide how long you might go to prison for, but it won’t be more than 14 years.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM330268.

Topics:
Crime and justice > Criminal law
Previous

237: Blackmail, or

“Threatening to reveal information or cause harm to get someone to do what you want or to gain something”

Next

239: Demanding with intent to steal, etc, or

“Forcing someone to give you something or do something for you by using threats or violence”

Part 10 Crimes against rights of property
Robbery and blackmail

238Punishment of blackmail

  1. Every one who commits blackmail is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 14 years.

Compare
  • 1961 No 43 s 238(1)
Notes
  • Section 238: replaced, on , by section 15 of the Crimes Amendment Act 2003 (2003 No 39).