Misprision Of A Felony Definition and Legal Meaning

On this page, you'll find the legal definition and meaning of Misprision Of A Felony, written in plain English, along with examples of how it is used.

What is Misprision Of A Felony?

(n) Misprision Of A Felony is the concealment of felonies or crimes from the law enforcement authorities by hiding the facts, misrepresenting, suppressing or destroying of evidences etc. Misprision Of A Felony is a wrong activity stopping the enforcement of law hence it is considered as a crime

History and Meaning of Misprision Of A Felony

Misprision of a felony is an ancient common law crime that originated in England in the 13th century. The term refers to the concealment of a felony by a person who knows about it, as opposed to an accessory who aids or abets the offender. The crime is deemed to exist when someone has knowledge of a felony but fails to report it to the authorities, or when a person conceals evidence of the crime. The term "misprision" means "a wrongful omission or neglect," while "felony" refers to the most serious type of crime.

Misprision of a felony used to be a capital offense, which meant that a person could be executed for committing the crime. Today, the crime is recognized in the United States as a federal offense, and it is punishable by a fine and/or imprisonment.

Examples of Misprision Of A Felony

  1. A witness who knows that a defendant in a criminal case has given false testimony but fails to inform the authorities could be charged with misprision of a felony.
  2. An individual who is aware that their friend has committed a murder but helps them to flee the jurisdiction could be charged with misprision of a felony.
  3. A lawyer who discovers that their client has given perjured testimony but fails to report it to the court may be charged with misprision of a felony.

Legal Terms Similar to Misprision Of A Felony

  1. Accessory: A person who aids or abets a criminal offender to avoid arrest, trial, or punishment.
  2. Obstruction of justice: The act of hindering or impeding the administration of justice, such as by lying to law enforcement officers, withholding evidence, or tampering with witnesses.
  3. Perjury: The willful act of giving false testimony under oath in a court or other legal setting.