Let’s cut to the chase. Filing a false police report can land you in a heap of legal trouble. You may think that it is no big deal to call the cops on someone. You are wrong. From civil suits to felony charges, false police reports are no joke.
If you find yourself behind bars, whether due to a false report or not, let the Szar Bail Bonds team help. Day or night, you can give us a call and get back home. Reach out right away.
Intent Matters
For an accusation of filing a false report to stick, the authorities need to prove that you knew the statement was fake. Intent is a critical component here. Something as simple as text messages can be enough to prove this. Similarly, if they can show you should have reasonably known it was false, you’re in trouble.
In most instances, filing a false police report falls under the misdemeanor classification. While this is not as serious as a felony charge, it is a serious crime. In many jurisdictions, a false report can cost you six months in jail.
Of course, serving time comes with a lot of additional baggage, too. You would likely lose your job and maybe even your home if you can’t pay your rent or mortgage. Many misdemeanor judgments involve fines to pay, as well. And it generally includes being under probation after your release.
If a false report has the intention of obstructing justice, such as an ongoing investigation, it could carry felony charges. Similarly, fake terrorist reports or bomb threats can fall under felony crimes. This type of charge could earn you up to 20 years behind bars.
There is another way that intent may matter. Several states are considering legislation that would make it a hate crime to file a false police report against a person of color. Hate crime charges can carry significant legal penalties.
How Do They Prove It?
Unfortunately for the fake reporter, it is often quite simple for authorities to prove a false report. Here is one hypothetical scenario.
Imagine you have a tenant in your business park that is a pain. They are excessively loud, and their clientele leaves messes in the parking lot. One day you call the police for a noise complaint. The police investigate but do not do enough to quell the racket.
You decide to take things up a notch and file a false police report that the business owner stole your air compressor. The police investigate your report. Soon they are at your door with evidence of emails between you and your tenant. In these emails, you permitted him to use the air compressor.
You have just been caught filing a false police report. Crimes like this are not difficult for police to prove. You are likely to serve time, pay a fine, do community service, or all of these things.
Civil Suits
Even if you manage to escape criminal charges, you still could face some hefty consequences. The person you accused in your false report could file civil charges against you. This is when the person or entity that you falsely accuse turns around and sues you for damages.
You would likely face the following civil charges:
- Defamation of Character
- Intentional Emotional Distress
- Additional Damages – any financial or legal damage stemming from the false report
In the above scenario with the air compressor, the accused tenant could sue you in a heartbeat. They could show that they lost customers because of the police investigation, costing them income. They could sue because they now have a damaged reputation. They could sue for compensation for medical or mental health services resulting from the stress of being accused.
Szar Bail Bonds Can Help
Clearly, filing a false police report is serious. It always carries some sort of consequences. If you land in jail due to a false report or any other situation, reach out to Szar Bail Bonds for assistance. Our team works around the clock and can help you get back home in no time.
