All About Perjury
In a court of law, after swearing under oath, most people expect plaintiffs, defendants, and witnesses to tell the truth and nothing but the truth. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Perjury, also known as forswearing, is the act of lying or making false statements under oath while in a court of law, or in any sworn statement in writing. Perjury is a criminal offense because the law relies on truthful witness testimony in order to maintain its fairness and credibility. In the United States, a person accused of forswearing can face up to five years in prison.