New York statute

N.Y. Penal Law § 490.25 — Crime of terrorism

Current through 2026 legislative session (LBDC text via OpenLegislation as of 2026-07-17)

Part of Article 490: Terrorism, New York Penal Law.

Criminal charges under this statute

Crime of terrorism

Full text of N.Y. Penal Law § 490.25

Statutory text current through the 2026 legislative session (LBDC text via OpenLegislation as of 2026-07-17). This publication reproduces the text of the Consolidated Laws of New York as provided by the New York State Senate's Open Legislation service (Legislative Bill Drafting Commission statutory text); it is not the official statutes of the State of New York.

N.Y. Penal Law § 490.25Primary source, current through the 2026 legislative session (LBDC text via OpenLegislation as of 2026-07-17)

490.25 Crime of terrorism. 1. A person is guilty of a crime of terrorism when, with intent to intimidate or coerce a civilian population, influence the policy of a unit of government by intimidation or coercion, or affect the conduct of a unit of government by murder, assassination or kidnapping, he or she commits a specified offense. 2. Sentencing. (a) When a person is convicted of a crime of terrorism pursuant to this section, and the specified offense is a class B, C, D or E felony offense, the crime of terrorism shall be deemed a violent felony offense. (b) When a person is convicted of a crime of terrorism pursuant to this section, and the specified offense is a class C, D or E felony offense, the crime of terrorism shall be deemed to be one category higher than the specified offense the defendant committed, or one category higher than the offense level applicable to the defendant's conviction for an attempt or conspiracy to commit the offense, whichever is applicable. (c) When a person is convicted of a crime of terrorism pursuant to this section, and the specified offense is a class B felony offense, the crime of terrorism shall be deemed a class A-I felony offense and the sentence imposed upon conviction of such offense shall be in accordance with section 70.00 of this chapter. (d) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, when a person is convicted of a crime of terrorism pursuant to this section, and the specified offense is a class A-I felony offense, the sentence upon conviction of such offense shall be life imprisonment without parole; provided, however, that nothing herein shall preclude or prevent a sentence of death when the specified offense is murder in the first degree as defined in section 125.27 of this chapter.

Official sources

Official OLLS publication (Title download)

Legal terms used in this section

Questions this section answers

What class of felony is crime of terrorism in New York?

Crime of terrorism is a Class A-I Felony in New York under N.Y. Penal Law § 490.25.

Crime of terrorism — specified offense class B felony: Class A-I Felony (N.Y. Penal Law § 490.25) · Crime of terrorism — specified offense class A-I felony: Class A-I Felony (N.Y. Penal Law § 490.25)

Which New York statute covers crime of terrorism?

Crime of terrorism is governed by N.Y. Penal Law § 490.25 (Crime of terrorism).

This reference is informational and is not legal advice.