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 New Hampshire, making a false police report is considered a criminal offense under RSA 641:4. This statute defines the crime as knowingly providing false information to law enforcement officers with the intent to mislead or deceive them. The false report must be material to a criminal investigation and can be made to a peace officer, federal special investigator, law enforcement agency employee authorized to conduct the investigation, corrections officer, or jailer. The severity of the charge, whether a misdemeanor or a felony, typically depends on the circumstances and the potential impact of the false report. Penalties for making a false police report in New Hampshire can include fines, imprisonment, community service, and probation. The specific consequences are determined based on the classification of the offense and the discretion of the court.