New Jersey Criminal Lawyers Blog
Knowingly providing false information to police or investigating authorities is a criminal offense. In New Jersey, it can be prosecuted under several different criminal statutes that subject Defendants to potential incarceration in State Prison.
What constitutes false information? Any statement made with the purpose of deceiving law enforcement and/or disrupting an investigation. This can include implicating an innocent person for a crime; reporting a crime that never occurred; claiming to have information about a crime that you do not have; providing law enforcement with a fake name, falsified documents, or fake identification. Misleading statements intended to protect another person from arrest or conviction or to protect yourself from liability are also punishable under the law.
Common reasons a person might risk criminal charges for making false statements include covering up material details of a crime, committing financial or insurance fraud, carrying out a prank or a hoax, or seeking revenge or retaliation against another individual.
When the false statements implicate and negatively affect another individual, the offender can face civil consequences beyond the criminal charges. The targeted individual could sue for defamation if the false information harmed their reputation, personal life, and/or career. They can also sue to recover legal fees and damages on the grounds of malicious prosecution if the statements lead to a wrongful arrest, or intentional infliction of emotional distress.
An experienced criminal defense attorney can provide guidance and develop the best strategy to defend against such allegations.