Should I call the police if someone threatens me?
Asked by: Adrian Rogahn DVM | Last update: May 17, 2026Score: 5/5 (6 votes)
Yes, you should call the police if someone threatens you, especially if you feel in immediate danger (call 911); otherwise, report it to your local police to document the threat, as even verbal threats can have legal consequences, and reporting creates a record for future action if the threats escalate. Take threats seriously, document everything, and prioritize your safety by getting to a secure location first if you're face-to-face with the person.
What can police do if someone threatens you?
If the police find the threat is credible and a violation of the law, they may arrest and press criminal charges. Threatening physical harm is a serious crime in many states.
Can I make a police report for threats?
Absolutely. If you get a threat of any kind it is always in your best interests to report it right away and inform your family and close friends of this as well. Give all the information to you have. And take extra precautions to stay safe.
How to deal when someone threatens you?
If someone threatens you, prioritize your immediate safety by getting to a secure location and calling emergency services (like 911) if in danger; then, report the threat to the police, document everything (messages, details), tell someone you trust, and avoid escalating the situation or meeting the person alone, as many threats are crimes and law enforcement can help with protective measures like restraining orders.
Who do I call if someone is threatening me?
Call 911 in an emergency. To file for a restraining order against someone, you must contact your local court system. Learn more about restraining orders from the National Domestic Violence Hotline. Call them at 1-800-799-SAFE (1-800-799-7233) to find resources near you.
How Should You Deal With Verbal Threats
What legally is considered a threat?
Legally, a threat is a serious expression, verbal, written, or by action, showing an intent to cause unlawful violence or harm (bodily injury, death, property damage) to someone, that a reasonable person would fear, and is not protected by free speech if it's a "true threat". Key elements include intent to cause harm, communication (direct or indirect), and the potential to make the victim fear for their safety.
What's the best reason to file a police report?
The best reasons to file a police report are for official documentation, insurance claims, pursuing legal action, and helping law enforcement track crime, especially after incidents like accidents, theft, or identity theft, as it creates an unbiased record for financial recovery, victim support, and future prevention. It provides crucial evidence, protects your rights, and helps authorities identify patterns and allocate resources, even for seemingly minor incidents.
Is it a crime if someone threatens me?
A criminal threat can still be prosecuted even if there is no evidence that you had the actual intent to carry out the threat. Simply threatening to kill or cause great bodily injury is sufficient. An “electronically communicated” threat includes email, text messages, social media, etc.
What evidence is needed for a verbal threat?
Evidence for a verbal threat needs to prove the statement was a credible, specific, and serious expression of intent to cause harm, not just hyperbole, requiring recordings, texts, witness statements, police reports, and documentation of context (like body language) to show intent and victim's reasonable fear. Key proof includes recordings (audio/video), detailed written accounts, and witness testimony, alongside evidence showing the threat caused genuine fear or changed the victim's life.
Should threats be taken seriously?
Verbal abuse, including threats, often escalates into physical violence. This is why it's essential to stop treating an abuser's threats as empty words. They are often roadmaps pointing to future actions.
What is the difference between threat and harassment?
While criminal threat focuses on threatening violence, harassment involves unwanted, repeated, or abusive conduct that causes another person to feel intimidated, alarmed, or emotionally distressed. Unlike criminal threat, harassment does not require a threat of physical violence.
What evidence do I need for a report?
Evidence – This is the proof that supports the facts. It can be witness statements, documents, emails, photos, or anything that helps show what really happened.
What happens after you file a police report for harassment?
Investigators will typically begin their investigation by conducting an in-depth interview with you and reviewing all available evidence to determine the validity and seriousness of the complaint, the risks to the complainant, and the key facts and details regarding the cyberstalking or harassment.
Can I file a police report for threats?
People may also threaten you with blackmail or other negative consequences if you don't comply with certain demands. If you are in immediate physical danger, call 911. Contact your local FBI field office or visit tips.fbi.gov to report a threat associated with a federal crime. You can report your tip anonymously.
How to deal with threats and intimidation?
If you are threatened with violence or harassment, call law enforcement officials. If you are the victim of economic retaliation, notify public officials. Some kinds of harassment and intimidation are crimes. Make sure all your actions are done in a group.
Can you defend yourself against a verbal threat?
A: Verbal threats alone are not typically enough to justify physical self-defense. However, if the threat seems credible and you believe it could escalate to something much more serious, you might be allowed to protect yourself. The more direct the threat, the stronger your self-defense case could be.
Can police do anything about verbal threats?
Police can investigate verbal threats, and if they find probable cause for a credible threat of harm, they can arrest the individual, leading to potential charges (misdemeanor/felony), fines, jail time, and court-ordered restraining orders to protect the victim, with evidence like recordings and witness accounts being crucial for prosecution.
What's the difference between a threat and intimidation?
The main difference between criminal threats and intimidation is that criminal threats require a very specific threat to commit a crime against a person that would result in that person's death or great bodily injury. Intimidation is any course of conduct that creates fear in a person.
What proof do you need to press charges?
Police need probable cause to charge someone, meaning enough facts for a reasonable person to believe a crime occurred and the suspect committed it, using evidence like witness statements, officer observations, physical evidence (DNA, weapons), digital records (texts, video), or suspect admissions, though the standard for charging is lower than proving guilt at trial.
What can I legally do if someone threatens me?
If someone threatens you, legally you can report it to the police, who can investigate and potentially arrest the person, especially for credible threats. You can also seek civil restraining orders for protection, and should document everything, including details, messages, and context, to build a case for law enforcement or civil action, with the FBI or DOJ involved for civil rights/hate crimes and the National Domestic Violence Hotline for home threats.
Can texts be used as evidence in court?
Courts Do Accept Text Messages as Evidence
The key requirement is that the messages are relevant and can be authenticated. That means the party introducing them must show who sent the message and that the content hasn't been changed. That means screenshots aren't always admissible.
What proof do you need for verbal harassment?
Proving verbal harassment involves meticulous documentation (dates, times, exact words, context), gathering corroborating evidence like emails, texts, or screenshots, and potentially securing witness testimony or expert opinions to establish a pattern of unwelcome, intimidating, or abusive conduct, meeting the "preponderance of evidence" (more likely than not) standard in legal settings, especially when supported by digital records showing hostility.
When should you file a police report?
You should file a police report for emergencies, in-progress crimes, serious felonies, personal harm (assault, threats, identity theft), property crimes (theft, burglary, vandalism), and traffic accidents with injuries or significant damage to document the event for insurance, legal, and investigative purposes, using 911 for immediate threats and online/phone options for non-emergencies where suspects are gone.
What is a good reason to call the police?
Life and death emergencies and in-progress crimes against property which include, but are not limited to: Life threatening situations. Fires. Motor vehicle accidents.
What are the top 3 reasons for crime?
Economic conditions, including median income, poverty level, and job availability. Cultural factors and educational, recreational, and religious characteristics. Family conditions with respect to divorce and family cohesiveness.