Blackmail is the threatening, coercive act of demanding payment or another benefit from someone in return for not revealing compromising or damaging information about them—with the threat often being to reveal the information to the victim’s friends, family, or business associates. Blackmail (sometimes referred to as the crime of coercion or extortion) is a criminal offense in most states—whether the information is true or false.

The definition and penalties for the crime of blackmail vary from state to state—in some states blackmail is part of the criminal offense of extortion, and in some states blackmail and extortion are separate criminal offenses. The crime of blackmail may be prosecuted as a felony in some states—with potential prison time—or as a misdemeanor eligible for probation. The criminal offense of blackmail, coercion, or extortion is usually located in a state’s penal or criminal code (statutes).

Blackmail is also a federal crime when the threat is to report or testify against someone regarding an alleged violation of federal law (tax evasion, for example), coupled with a demand for money or something else of value in return for the blackmailer not reporting or testifying regarding the alleged violation of federal law.

In Tennessee, blackmail is considered a form of extortion, which is a criminal offense under state law. Extortion is defined as the obtaining of property, money, or any advantage by wrongful use of force, fear, or the power of office, or by the threat of inflicting harm to the person, reputation, or property of the victim. This includes threats to reveal damaging or compromising information about someone unless they provide payment or another benefit. The crime of extortion, which encompasses acts of blackmail, can be prosecuted as a felony in Tennessee, potentially leading to significant prison time, fines, or both. The specific statutes detailing the offense and its penalties can be found in the Tennessee Code Annotated, particularly under the sections related to theft offenses. Additionally, if the act of blackmail involves the threat of reporting an alleged violation of federal law, it may also be prosecuted as a federal crime under the relevant federal statutes.