Perjury is the criminal offense of making a false statement under oath—verbally or in writing—that the witness knows to be false and that is material to the proceeding in which the statement is made. And suborning perjury or subornation of perjury is the criminal offense of procuring the perjury of another person.

Perjury is a criminal offense under both state and federal laws and may be prosecuted as a misdemeanor or as a felony offense, depending on the state or federal jurisdiction, and whether there are any aggravating factors that increase the seriousness of the crime. Perjury laws are located in state statutes—often in the penal or criminal code—and the federal perjury law is located in the United States Code at 18 U.S.C. §1621.

In Oregon, perjury is defined as making a false statement under oath, knowing it to be false, and with the intent to mislead a public servant in the performance of their duty. This is outlined in the Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) under ORS 162.065. Perjury can be prosecuted as a Class C felony in Oregon, which may result in significant penalties including imprisonment and fines. Additionally, the crime of suborning perjury, which involves persuading or inducing another person to commit perjury, is also a serious offense under Oregon law. At the federal level, perjury is governed by 18 U.S.C. §1621, and it is considered a felony with potential penalties including fines and imprisonment. Both state and federal laws treat perjury and subornation of perjury as serious offenses due to their potential to undermine the integrity of the judicial system.