Under Georgia law, “terroristic threats” and “terroristic acts” are two related but very different offenses, and whether an offense is treated as a misdemeanor or a felony depends largely on what actually happened and what the threat or act suggested.

A terroristic threat in Georgia involves communicating a threat to commit violence, release a hazardous substance, or burn or damage property with the intent to terrorize someone, cause an evacuation of a public place, or create serious public inconvenience, or when someone makes such a threat with reckless disregard for those outcomes. Simply making the words of the threat can be enough—no action beyond the communication needs to occur for charges to be filed. Importantly, the law even says a conviction can’t rest solely on the uncorroborated testimony of the person the threat was made to.

Most terroristic threats are treated as misdemeanors, which means they carry up to one year in jail and/or a fine up to $1,000. But Georgia law draws a clear line: if the threat suggests the death of the person threatened, the charge is elevated to a felony, punishable by one to five years in prison and the same fine range. That’s because a threat implying someone will be killed is inherently more serious and alarming than a threat of lesser harm.

On the other hand, a terroristic act isn’t just words—it’s conduct that causes fear or disruption. The law lists specific examples, like using burning symbols to terrorize someone, firing or throwing an object at an occupied vehicle, or releasing (or pretending to release) a hazardous substance with the purpose of terrorizing others or causing evacuation or serious inconvenience. These acts are inherently more dangerous because they involve real-world behavior that risks people’s safety or public order.

Because of that, terroristic acts are almost always charged as felonies. The standard penalty range is one to ten years in prison and up to a $5,000 fine. But if someone suffers serious physical injury as a direct result of the act, penalties increase dramatically—five to forty years in prison and fines up to $250,000. That reflects the law’s recognition that harm to actual people is far more severe than mere disruption or inconvenience.

In everyday language: a terroristic threat is about the promise or warning of harm, with misdemeanor treatment if it’s serious but not life-threatening, and felony treatment if it threatens death. A terroristic act is about doing something that causes fear or danger in the real world, and it’s treated as a felony because it involves tangible, harmful behavior rather than just words. In both cases, the intent to terrorize or disrupt is a key element the prosecution must prove.

If you or someone you know is facing these kinds of charges, the nuances matter—not just for your immediate freedom, but for your future opportunities. A conviction, whether misdemeanor or felony, can affect everything from employment to housing to civil rights, so understanding the difference and mounting an effective defense is critical. Call us today at (404)581-0999