Offenses Involving Judicial Procedure

Question 1

What is perjury?

Answer 1

Perjury is the intentional taking of a false oath (lying) in regard to a material matter (that is, one that might affect the outcome of the proceeding) in a judicial proceeding.

Question 2

What is subornation of perjury?

Answer 2

Subornation of perjury consists of procuring or inducing another to commit perjury.

Question 3

What is bribery?

Answer 3

Bribery at common law was the corrupt payment or receipt of anything of value for official action. Under modern statutes, it may be extended to nonpublic officials, and either the offering of a bribe or the taking of a bribe may constitute the crime.

Question 4

What is compounding a crime?

Answer 4

Compounding consists of agreeing, for valuable consideration, not to prosecute another for a felony or to conceal the commission of a felony or the whereabouts of a felon. Under modern statutes, the definition refers to any crime.

Question 5

What is misprison of a felony?

Answer 5

At common law, misprision of a felony consisted of the failure to disclose knowledge of the commission of a felony or to prevent the commission of a felony. Under modern statutes, misprision is no longer a crime, or if it remains a crime, it requires some affirmative action in aid of the felon.