What must be shown to classify an act as criminal coercion?

To classify an act as criminal coercion, it is essential to demonstrate that one party has threatened to injure another as a means to compel them to take a specific action. This threat creates an undue pressure on the victim, forcing them to comply with the demands due to fear of harm. In criminal coercion, the nature of the threat—whether to physically harm, damage property, or expose harmful information—is integral to establishing the force and intent behind the action.

While other options touch on concepts of intent and interpersonal conflict, they do not specifically encompass the act of making a threat to compel action, which is a defining characteristic of criminal coercion. Offenses must involve a clear threat that leads to coercive behavior to fall under this category, distinguishing it from mere civil disputes or conflicts that lack the element of intimidation or coercion.