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 Nebraska, it is indeed a criminal offense to knowingly make a false police report 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 specific statutes that address this issue in Nebraska are found in the Nebraska Revised Statutes. The severity of the offense and the corresponding penalties can vary based on the circumstances of the false report. Typically, making a false police report can be charged as a misdemeanor, but certain factors could elevate it to a felony level. Penalties for this crime in Nebraska may include imprisonment, fines, community service, and probation. The exact punishment would be determined based on the specifics of the offense and the discretion of the court within the parameters set by state law.