What is a primary characteristic of criminal coercion?

Criminal coercion primarily revolves around the use of threats to compel individuals to act against their will. The essential characteristic lies in the act of threatening to confine someone or cause them physical harm, which definitely creates a significant fear that can manipulate their decision-making. This form of coercion is meant to exert pressure on someone to behave in a particular way, and the threat of serious consequences, such as confinement or injury, elevates it to a criminal level.

In contrast, the other options, while they involve threats, do not necessarily meet the same level of severity or direct compulsion as criminal coercion. Threatening harm to property or exposing secrets may lead to distress but typically lacks the imminent personal harm associated with confinement or physical injury. Similarly, threats to reveal personal information may be invasive but would not usually be classified under the strict domain of criminal coercion unless they are coupled with threats of significant harm or confinement. Therefore, the defining aspect of criminal coercion is its focus on the fear of physical injury or loss of liberty, making the correct answer centered on those elements of threat.