PERJURY

criminal offense of making false statements under oath. In common law, only a willful and corrupt sworn statement made without sincere belief in its truth, and made in a judicial proceeding regarding a material matter, was perjury. Today, statutes have broadened the offense so that in some jurisdictions any false swearing in a legal instrument or legal setting is perjury. See also subornation of perjury. EXAMPLE: Sheila is charged with robbery. At her trial, Tomas, Sheila's boyfriend, admits to the crime, which results in a "not guilty" verdict for Sheila. Because of a procedural technicality, Tomas cannot be tried for the robbery. But if the prosecution can prove that Tomas lied about committing the crime, he could then be prosecuted for perjury. Source: Barron's Dictionary of Legal Terms, Steven H. Gifis, 5th Edition; © 2016

"I can think of few crimes, however, that strike more viciously against the integrity of our system of justice than the crime of perjury. In my judgment, it is imperative that when such misconduct is identified, offenders be immediately investigated and, if the evidence warrants, prosecuted to the full extent permitted by law."

- Dade County v. Martinsen, 736 So.2d 794 (3DCA 1999)