Changes

==Origin==

==Origin==

Anglo-Norman ''parjurie'', ''perjurie'' (c1292 or earlier; compare Middle French ''parjurie'' (1530 in an apparently isolated attestation)) and its etymon classical [[Latin]] ''periūrium'' [[false]] [[oath]], oath-breaking

Anglo-Norman ''parjurie'', ''perjurie'' (c1292 or earlier; compare Middle French ''parjurie'' (1530 in an apparently isolated attestation)) and its etymon classical [[Latin]] ''periūrium'' [[false]] [[oath]], oath-breaking

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/14th_century 14th Century]

*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/14th_century 14th Century]

==Definitions==

==Definitions==

*1: The [[action]] of swearing to or [[solemn]]ly affirming the [[truth]] of a [[statement]] which one knows to be [[false]]; ([[Law]]) the action or [[offence]] of wilfully giving [[false]] [[evidence]] or [[testimony]] under [[oath]]. Also: the action of taking an oath which it is not one's [[intention]] to keep.

*1: The [[action]] of swearing to or [[solemn]]ly affirming the [[truth]] of a [[statement]] which one knows to be [[false]]; ([[Law]]) the action or [[offence]] of wilfully giving [[false]] [[evidence]] or [[testimony]] under [[oath]]. Also: the action of taking an oath which it is not one's [[intention]] to keep.

Perjury is considered a serious [[offense]] as it can be used to usurp the [[power]] of the [[courts]], resulting in miscarriages of [[justice]]. In the United States, for example, the general perjury statute under Federal law defines perjury as a felony and provides for a [[prison]] sentence of up to five years. In the United Kingdom a [[potential]] penalty for perjury is a prison sentence of up to 7 years. However prosecutions for perjury are rare. In some countries such as France, Italy, and Germany, suspects cannot be heard under [[oath]] or affirmation and thus cannot commit perjury, regardless of what they say during their [[trial]].

Perjury is considered a serious [[offense]] as it can be used to usurp the [[power]] of the [[courts]], resulting in miscarriages of [[justice]]. In the United States, for example, the general perjury statute under Federal law defines perjury as a felony and provides for a [[prison]] sentence of up to five years. In the United Kingdom a [[potential]] penalty for perjury is a prison sentence of up to 7 years. However prosecutions for perjury are rare. In some countries such as France, Italy, and Germany, suspects cannot be heard under [[oath]] or affirmation and thus cannot commit perjury, regardless of what they say during their [[trial]].

The rules for perjury also apply when a [[person]] has made a [[statement]] under penalty of perjury, even if the person has not been sworn or affirmed as a [[witness]] before an appropriate official. An example of this is the United States' income tax return, which, by [[law]], must be signed as true and correct under penalty of perjury (see 26 U.S.C. § 6065). Federal tax law provides criminal penalties of up to three years in prison for violation of the tax return perjury statute. See: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internal_Revenue_Code 26 U.S.C.] [http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/26/7206.html#1 § 7206]

The rules for perjury also apply when a [[person]] has made a [[statement]] under penalty of perjury, even if the person has not been sworn or affirmed as a [[witness]] before an appropriate official. An example of this is the United States' income tax return, which, by [[law]], must be signed as true and correct under penalty of perjury (see 26 U.S.C. § 6065). Federal tax law provides criminal penalties of up to three years in prison for violation of the tax return perjury statute. See: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internal_Revenue_Code 26 U.S.C.] [https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/26/7206.html#1 § 7206]

[[Statements]] of [[interpretation]] of [[fact]] are not perjury because people often make inaccurate [[statements]] unwittingly and not deliberately. [[Individuals]] may have [[honest]] but mistaken [[beliefs]] about certain [[facts]], or their recollection may be inaccurate. Like most other [[crimes]] in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_law common law] system, to be convicted of perjury one must have had the [[intention]] ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mens_rea mens rea]) to commit the act, and to have actually committed the act ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Actus_reus actus reus]). [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subornation_of_perjury Subornation of perjury], attempting to induce another [[person]] to perjure themselves, is itself a [[crime]].

[[Statements]] of [[interpretation]] of [[fact]] are not perjury because people often make inaccurate [[statements]] unwittingly and not deliberately. [[Individuals]] may have [[honest]] but mistaken [[beliefs]] about certain [[facts]], or their recollection may be inaccurate. Like most other [[crimes]] in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_law common law] system, to be convicted of perjury one must have had the [[intention]] ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mens_rea mens rea]) to commit the act, and to have actually committed the act ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Actus_reus actus reus]). [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subornation_of_perjury Subornation of perjury], attempting to induce another [[person]] to perjure themselves, is itself a [[crime]].

[[Category: Law]]

[[Category: Law]]