What happens if you lie to the police about someone?

Lying to the police about a friend’s crime can also lead to charges of obstruction of justice, also known as obstructing a law-enforcement officer. People commit obstruction of justice when they do something to hinder, delay, or obstruct the officials in the performance of their official duties.

Is it a crime to lie to a police officer?

It is illegal to lie to police in some circumstances. It is a crime to lie about your identity to a law enforcement officer during a traffic stop or while being placed under arrest. Filing a false police report is also a crime. The most serious offense, however, is perjury, which can be a felony.

Why would someone confess to something they didn’t do?

They want to avoid a harsher sentence: In many cases, police will tell a suspect that the evidence is so strong that they’re going to be convicted no matter what, but if they provide a confession, their sentence will be more lenient.

Can you be charged for lying?

If you’ve been accused of lying to the police, you may face misdemeanor or felony charges. The best thing to do is to request an attorney and then remain silent.

Is wasting police time a crime?

Wasting police time is a criminal offence as outlined under section 5(2) of the Criminal Law Act 1967. Knowingly making false reports to the police is an offence, including verbal or written statements that: Someone has committed an offence. That the reporter has information that is relevant to a police enquiry.

What happens when the police lie?

“Police lying raises the likelihood that the innocent end up in jail – and that as juries and judges come to regard the police as less credible, or as cases are dismissed when the lies are discovered, the guilty will go free.”

Can a police officer legally lie about having DNA evidence?

Police officers can legally lie to you about having evidence. If a policer officer tells you that they found your DNA at the scene of the crime, they may not necessarily be telling the truth—and that’s perfectly within their rights.

Does the persistence of lying by the police contribute to wrongful convictions?

The persistence of lying by the police has inevitably become a contributing factor to wrongful convictions, in New York City and beyond.

How many police officers have lied?

The 25 cases identified by the Times are a small portion of those in which officers are believed to have lied. This is because a large majority of cases result in plea deals.