Q: Penalties for lying about domestic assault
I lied to the police about my boyfriend choking me. What can happen to me?
A:
You may be charged with filing a false police report.
TITLE 11
Criminal Offenses
CHAPTER 11-32
Obstructing Justice
SECTION 11-32-2
§ 11-32-2 False report of crime. – Every person who shall knowingly make or cause to be made a false statement of a crime, either oral or written, with intent that it be relied upon by a police officer of any city or town or by any member of the state police, shall be deemed guilty of obstructing an officer and shall be imprisoned not exceeding one year and/or be fined not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500), and shall in addition to this imprisonment and/or fine be ordered to make restitution to the person falsely accused of a crime for any damage which the person sustained as a result of the false complaint.
History of Section.
(P.L. 1971, ch. 184, § 1; P.L. 1985, ch. 176, § 1.)
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