Perjury is the criminal offense of making a false statement under oath—verbally or in writing—that the witness knows to be false and that is material to the proceeding in which the statement is made. And suborning perjury or subornation of perjury is the criminal offense of procuring the perjury of another person.

Perjury is a criminal offense under both state and federal laws and may be prosecuted as a misdemeanor or as a felony offense, depending on the state or federal jurisdiction, and whether there are any aggravating factors that increase the seriousness of the crime. Perjury laws are located in state statutes—often in the penal or criminal code—and the federal perjury law is located in the United States Code at 18 U.S.C. §1621.

In Maine, perjury is considered a serious criminal offense. It is defined as intentionally making a false statement under oath, whether verbally or in writing, which the person knows to be false and is material to the proceeding. Maine's statutes classify perjury as a Class C crime, which is a felony, and it is punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000. Subornation of perjury, which involves persuading or inducing another person to commit perjury, is also a criminal offense under Maine law and carries similar penalties. Additionally, under federal law, perjury is codified at 18 U.S.C. § 1621 and is punishable by a fine and/or imprisonment for up to five years. The federal statute applies to false statements made under oath in federal proceedings, including those in federal courts and before federal agencies. An attorney can provide more specific guidance on the potential consequences of perjury or subornation of perjury in both state and federal jurisdictions.