Plain-Language Summary

Pennsylvania law defines and penalizes perjury and false swearing, especially in official proceedings or when misleading public officials. Making false statements under oath can lead to misdemeanor charges, with severity depending on the context. The law emphasizes corroboration requirements and specifies different penalties for false statements made in official versus non-official settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Perjury in Pennsylvania involves making false statements under oath in official proceedings, with penalties depending on the circumstances and intent.

False swearing can be classified as a second-degree misdemeanor if it occurs in official proceedings or to mislead a public official, or a third-degree misdemeanor in other cases.

Yes, except in certain cases, the falsity of a statement must be corroborated by more than uncorroborated testimony of a single witness.

False statements outside official proceedings may be prosecuted under false swearing laws, with penalties depending on whether the statement was required by law to be sworn.