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 West Virginia, perjury is considered a serious criminal offense. It is defined as intentionally making a false statement under oath, whether spoken or written, which the person knows to be false and which is material to the proceeding. This applies to judicial proceedings and other situations where an oath is required by law. West Virginia state statutes classify perjury as a felony, and a person convicted of perjury can face severe penalties, including imprisonment. Subornation of perjury, which involves persuading or inducing another person to commit perjury, is also a criminal offense in West Virginia. The penalties for subornation of perjury are similarly severe. Additionally, under federal law, perjury is codified at 18 U.S.C. §1621, and it carries its own set of penalties, which can be imposed if the false statement is made in relation to a federal proceeding or in a matter within the jurisdiction of the federal government. An attorney can provide more specific guidance on the potential consequences of perjury or subornation of perjury in both state and federal jurisdictions.