Federal · Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure

18 U.S.C. § 4: Misprision of felony

Felony

What this law says, in plain English

Federal law makes it a crime to knowingly conceal knowledge of a felony and fail to promptly report it to a judge or authorized official.

Read the full statutory text
Whoever, having knowledge of the actual commission of a felony cognizable by a court of the United States, conceals and does not as soon as possible make known the same to some judge or other person in civil or military authority under the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.

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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.