It is often said that when you witness or encounter a crime that you should immediately report it to the police. In many situations, people fail to do so. However, there have also been instances of people falsely reporting a crime. It is illegal filing a false police report in the state of California. According to California Penal Code Section 148.5, it is a criminal offense to make a report when you know it to be false.
A false police report is classified as a misdemeanor
If the prosecution finds the defendant guilty of having committed a said crime, it is up to the discretion of the judge to set an appropriate jail time for the defendant. The crime is classified as a misdemeanor, which can require up to six months in jail (or more) based on what the judge considers necessary. However, while jail time is indeed severe, what is more, severe is the harm done to one’s reputation. It will reflect on a person’s criminal record that they willingly sought out a police officer, told them incorrect information and wasted their time. Such an act can have negative repercussions when the convicted individual must deal with state or police officers in the future.