FOCL Practice Test

What crime has Juliet committed when making a false claim to the police?

1. Perjury

2. False report to a peace officer

3. Attempted Fraud

4. Obstruction of Justice

The correct answer is: False report to a peace officer

When Juliet makes a false claim to the police, she is committing the crime of making a false report to a peace officer. This act typically involves knowingly providing false information to law enforcement about a crime that has not occurred or a situation that does not exist. The law views this as a serious offense because it can divert valuable police resources away from legitimate investigations and can create unnecessary panic or concern within the community. Perjury, while also a serious crime, specifically pertains to lying under oath in legal proceedings rather than making a false statement to police authorities without being under oath. Attempted fraud generally involves schemes intended to deceive for personal gain, but simply making a false report does not necessarily meet the criteria for fraud as it lacks the element of deceit for economic benefit. Obstruction of justice usually applies to actions that interfere with the processes of the judicial system, which can be broader than just making a false report. Thus, the accurate identification of the crime in this scenario is focused on the act of knowingly providing false information to law enforcement, which aligns directly with the definition of making a false report to a peace officer.