MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2000 Regular Session

To: Judiciary

By: Senator(s) Dickerson, Browning, Robertson, Mettetal

AN ACT TO CREATE THE CRIME OF FALSE REPORTING OF A CRIME AND PRESCRIBE PENALTIES THEREFOR; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. It shall be unlawful for any person to report a crime or any element of a crime to any law enforcement officer or any officer of any court or any other official responsible for receiving reports of crime, by any means, knowing that such report is false. Any violation of this section where the falsely reported crime would have been a misdemeanor, shall be punishable as a misdemeanor by imprisonment in the county jail not to exceed six (6) months or by fine not to exceed One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), or both. Any violation of this section where the falsely reported crime would have been a felony, shall be punishable as a felony, by imprisonment in the State Penitentiary for no more than three (3) years or by fine not to exceed Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), or both.

SECTION 2. Section 1 of this act shall be codified as Section 97-35-47, Mississippi Code of 1972.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2000.