What is the legal definition of obstruction of justice?
Full Question:
If you lie to a police officer about something that would have no effect on another person being arrested is that considered obstruction of Justice?
11/19/2007 |
Category: Criminal |
State: Illinois |
#12525
Answer:
The following is an Illinois statute:
720 ILCS 5/31-4
Sec. 31-4. Obstructing justice.
A person obstructs justice when, with intent to prevent the apprehension
or obstruct the prosecution or defense of any person, he knowingly commits
any of the following acts:
(a) Destroys, alters, conceals or disguises physical evidence, plants
false evidence, furnishes false information; or
(b) Induces a witness having knowledge material to the subject at issue
to leave the State or conceal himself; or
(c) Possessing knowledge material to the subject at issue, he leaves the
State or conceals himself.
(d) Sentence.
(1) Obstructing justice is a Class 4 felony, except as provided in
paragraph (2) of this subsection (d).
(2) Obstructing justice in furtherance of streetgang related or
gang-related activity, as defined in Section 10 of the Illinois
Streetgang Terrorism Omnibus Prevention Act, is a Class 3 felony.