Perverting the Course of Justice

Perverting the course of justice is an offense committed when a person interferes with the administration of justice, encompassing conduct such as fabricating or disposing of evidence, intimidating witnesses or jurors, and threatening judges. In England and Wales it is a common law offense triable only on indictment, carrying a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Statutory versions of the same offense exist in Australia, Canada, Fiji, Ireland and New Zealand, while Scotland uses the term defeating the ends of justice and South Africa refers to defeating or obstructing the course of justice; the United States addresses comparable conduct under the separate concept of obstruction of justice.