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 Idaho, making a false police report is considered a criminal offense under Idaho Code § 18-5413. A person commits this offense if they knowingly provide false information to law enforcement officers with the intent to deceive. This applies when the false statement is material to a criminal investigation and is made to a peace officer, federal special investigator, an authorized employee of a law enforcement agency, or a corrections officer or jailer. The severity of the charge, whether a misdemeanor or a felony, depends on the circumstances of the case and the potential impact of the false report. Penalties for making a false police report in Idaho can include imprisonment, fines, community service, and probation. The specific consequences are determined based on the applicable state statutes and the discretion of the court.