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 Michigan, making a false report of a crime is indeed a criminal offense. Under Michigan law, specifically MCL 750.411a, it is illegal to knowingly make a false report of a crime to a peace officer, federal investigator, or any other law enforcement personnel with the intent to deceive. This applies when the false statement is material to a criminal investigation. The severity of the charge can range from a misdemeanor to a felony, depending on the circumstances of the false report, such as the nature of the crime reported and the consequences of the false report. Penalties for making a false police report in Michigan can include imprisonment, fines, community service, and probation. The exact punishment will be determined based on the specifics of the offense and the discretion of the court.