Threatening a witness: threats to report immigration status.

Existing law makes it a misdemeanor to knowingly and maliciously prevent or dissuade, or attempt to prevent or dissuade, a witness or victim from attending or giving testimony at a trial, proceeding, or inquiry authorized by law or to attempt to prevent or dissuade a victim or witness of a crime to report that crime to law enforcement or seek the arrest of a person in connection with that victimization. Existing law makes the same actions a felony, punishable by 2, 3, or 4 years, if specified additional criteria exist, including accompanying the act by force or by an express or implied threat of force or violence, upon a witness, victim, or any 3rd person or the property of a victim, witness, or any 3rd person. This bill would include in the list of circumstances that make threatening a witness or victim a felony a threat to report the immigration status or suspected immigration status of a crime victim or witness, or of a victim's or witness' family member or relative. By increasing the penalty for a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.