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 Kentucky, making a false police report is considered a criminal offense under Kentucky Revised Statutes (KRS) 519.040, which addresses falsely reporting an incident. This statute makes it illegal for a person to knowingly make a false report to law enforcement authorities with the intent to mislead or hinder an investigation. The offense is typically classified as a misdemeanor, but the exact classification and severity can vary depending on the circumstances of the case, such as the potential harm or public alarm caused by the false report. Penalties for making a false police report in Kentucky may include fines, imprisonment, or both. The specific punishment would be determined by the court based on the details of the offense and the defendant's criminal history.