Virginia criminal charge
Falsely summoning or giving false reports to law-enforcement officials in Virginia
Falsely summoning or giving false reports to law-enforcement officials is a criminal offense under Virginia law, defined by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-461. Its classification is not fixed: Virginia assigns a different penalty class depending on the circumstances of the offense. The class that applies — and the sentencing range that follows from it — depends on which statutory variant fits the facts.
Defined by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-461.
What is the penalty for falsely summoning or giving false reports to law-enforcement officials in Virginia?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 12 months (Base offense - false report, causing false report, or improper summoning of law enforcement — Applies generally to knowingly giving a false crime report, causing another to give a false report, or improperly calling/summoning a law-enforcement official without just cause.) | discretionary | Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-11 |
| Fine | up to $2,500 (Base offense - false report, causing false report, or improper summoning of law enforcement — Applies generally to knowingly giving a false crime report, causing another to give a false report, or improperly calling/summoning a law-enforcement official without just cause.; either or both with confinement (§ 18.2-11(a))) | discretionary | Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-11 |
| Jail / prison | 1 years to 5 years (Bias-motivated false report or summoning — Applies when the person intentionally gives a false report, causes another to give a false report, or calls or summons a law-enforcement official against another person because of race, religious conviction, gender, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, color, or national origin.; or, at the discretion of the jury or the court trying the case without a jury, confinement in jail for not more than 12 months and a fine of not more than $2,500, either or both (§ 18.2-10(f))) | discretionary | Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-10 |
| Fine | up to $2,500 (Bias-motivated false report or summoning — Applies when the person intentionally gives a false report, causes another to give a false report, or calls or summons a law-enforcement official against another person because of race, religious conviction, gender, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, color, or national origin.; with the jail-confinement alternative under § 18.2-10(f)) | discretionary | Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-10 |
Applies to current.
How is falsely summoning or giving false reports to law-enforcement officials classified in Virginia?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base offense - false report, causing false report, or improper summoning of law enforcement | Class 1 Misdemeanor | Applies generally to knowingly giving a false crime report, causing another to give a false report, or improperly calling/summoning a law-enforcement official without just cause. | Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-461undefined |
| Bias-motivated false report or summoning | Class 6 Felony | Applies when the person intentionally gives a false report, causes another to give a false report, or calls or summons a law-enforcement official against another person because of race, religious conviction, gender, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, color, or national origin. | Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-461undefined |
Common questions about falsely summoning or giving false reports to law-enforcement officials in Virginia
Is falsely summoning or giving false reports to law-enforcement officials a felony or a misdemeanor in Virginia?
It depends on the circumstances: falsely summoning or giving false reports to law-enforcement officials ranges from a class 1 misdemeanor to a class 6 felony in Virginia under Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-461.
Base offense - false report, causing false report, or improper summoning of law enforcement: class 1 misdemeanor (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-461) · Bias-motivated false report or summoning: class 6 felony (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-461)
What are the penalties for falsely summoning or giving false reports to law-enforcement officials in Virginia?
Penalties for falsely summoning or giving false reports to law-enforcement officials in Virginia depend on how it is classified — from a class 1 misdemeanor up to a class 6 felony — with the ranges set by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-11 and Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-10; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.
Which Virginia statute covers falsely summoning or giving false reports to law-enforcement officials?
Falsely summoning or giving false reports to law-enforcement officials is governed by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-461 (Falsely summoning or giving false reports to law-enforcement officials).
Legal terms used in this law
This reference is informational and is not legal advice. Penalty ranges are the statutory classification ranges; sentencing in a specific case depends on its facts and history.