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 Kansas, making a false police report is considered a criminal offense under Kansas Statutes Annotated (K.S.A.) 21-5904. A person commits this offense if they knowingly and with the intent to deceive, make any false information or report to a law enforcement officer or agency concerning the commission of any crime. The severity of the charge can range from a Class A nonperson misdemeanor to a severity level 8, nonperson felony, depending on the circumstances, such as if the false report is about a violent crime. Penalties for a misdemeanor can include fines and jail time, while a felony conviction can result in more significant fines and longer prison sentences. Additionally, individuals convicted of this crime may also face probation and community service requirements.