{"id":376986,"date":"2018-05-22T16:13:10","date_gmt":"2018-05-22T21:13:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/virginia-law\/virginia-perjury-laws.html"},"modified":"2018-05-22T17:47:53","modified_gmt":"2018-05-22T22:47:53","slug":"virginia-perjury-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/virginia-law\/virginia-perjury-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Virginia Perjury Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n \n
\n

Virginia Perjury Laws<\/h1>\n
\n
\n

Created by FindLaw’s team<\/a> of legal writers and editors<\/i><\/p>\n\n | Last updated\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
\n

This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
\n

The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

Perjury, the act of lying under oath, falls into a category of offenses known as "crimes against justice." These types of crimes prevent the criminal justice system from performing in the way that it's supposed to. Other examples of crimes against justice are failure to report a crime and criminal contempt of court<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n

Conduct That's Considered Perjury in Virginia<\/h2>\r\n

While each jurisdiction has its own definition of perjury<\/a>, it's generally defined as knowingly making a false statement — which can be written or spoken — while under oath. In addition to this general definition of perjury, Virginia has two additional statutes that fall under the "perjury" article in the Virginia Code:<\/p>\r\n