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 Washington State, it is indeed a criminal offense to knowingly make a false or misleading statement to a public servant, which includes making a false police report. According to RCW 9A.76.175, a person is guilty of making a false or misleading statement to a public servant if they make a statement they know is false or misleading and the statement is material to a criminal investigation or proceeding. This offense is classified as a gross misdemeanor in Washington. The penalties for a gross misdemeanor can include up to 364 days in jail, a fine of up to $5,000, or both. The severity of the punishment can vary based on the circumstances of the case and the discretion of the court.