Harassment, 1st Degree is punishable by which penalty?

Harassment, 1st Degree is punishable by which penalty?

• A. 5 years imprisonment or $5,000 fine
• B. 3 years imprisonment or $1,000 fine
• C. 1 year imprisonment or $500 fine
• D. 6 months imprisonment or $100 fine

Answer: (B)

Penalties rise with how serious the harassment is, so first-degree harassment is treated as more severe than lower levels and carries a mid-range punishment. The statute sets an upper limit of up to three years in prison or a fine of up to one thousand dollars, which is why three years imprisonment or a one-thousand-dollar fine is the best description of the penalty. The other options reflect either a longer maximum (not aligned with this degree) or a shorter maximum (indicating a lesser offense), so they don’t fit the intended level of severity for first-degree harassment.

Penalties rise with how serious the harassment is, so first-degree harassment is treated as more severe than lower levels and carries a mid-range punishment. The statute sets an upper limit of up to three years in prison or a fine of up to one thousand dollars, which is why three years imprisonment or a one-thousand-dollar fine is the best description of the penalty. The other options reflect either a longer maximum (not aligned with this degree) or a shorter maximum (indicating a lesser offense), so they don’t fit the intended level of severity for first-degree harassment.