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.
Facts
Typical PenaltyIn England and Wales, the maximum penalty for perverting the course of justice is life imprisonment. 1 Classification
Offense GradeMinor or Summary Offense 1 Connections
Has Offense Grade
Entity-backed identity for the offense-grade enum value this offense already carries, resolved to a crime concept by an explicit value-to-entity map (phase 3 bucket conversion, docs\design_entity_backed_browse_buckets_20260928.md). The offense-grade fact itself stays on the offense unchanged.
Sources
1. Perverting the course of justice (Sentencing Council)
Crown Court guideline, maximum sentence lineQuote, Crown Court guideline, maximum sentence line
Maximum: Life imprisonment
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