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 Rhode Island, making a false police report is considered a criminal offense under Rhode Island General Laws Section 11-32-2. A person commits this offense if they knowingly and willfully make a false report of a crime to the police, 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, any authorized law enforcement agency employee, or a corrections officer or jailer. The severity of the charge, whether it is prosecuted as a misdemeanor or a felony, depends on the circumstances of the case, including the nature of the false report and its impact on the criminal investigation. Penalties for making a false police report in Rhode Island can include imprisonment, fines, community service, and probation. The specific consequences are determined based on the applicable state statutes and the discretion of the court.