It is a criminal offense to make a false police report of a crime—knowingly and with the intent to deceive—if the statement is material to a criminal investigation and is made to (1) a peace officer or federal special investigator conducting the investigation; (2) any employee of a law enforcement agency that is authorized by the agency to conduct the investigation and that the person making the statement knows is conducting the investigation; or (3) a corrections officer or jailer.

The crime of making a false police report may be prosecuted as a misdemeanor or as a felony, depending on the state, and is punishable in many states by jail time, fines, community service, and probation. The definitions and punishments for the crime of making a false police report vary from state to state and are usually located in a state’s statutes.

In Alaska, making a false police report is considered a criminal offense under Alaska Statutes Section 11.56.800. A person commits the offense of false report if they knowingly make a false report of a crime to a peace officer, federal special investigator, or any authorized employee of a law enforcement agency with the intent to deceive. This offense is material if it could affect the course or outcome of an investigation. The crime of making a false report is classified as a Class A misdemeanor in Alaska, which can result in penalties including up to one year of imprisonment, a fine of up to $25,000, or both. Additionally, the person may be subject to probation and community service depending on the circumstances and the discretion of the court.