Conn. Gen. Stat. 53a-156 – Perjury

Connecticut General Statutes 53a-156 explained for non lawyers

1. What the law prohibits

You commit perjury when you make a false statement under oath in an official proceeding. This includes:

• Lying while testifying in court
• Making false statements in sworn depositions
• Lying on legal documents that require an oath
• Giving false testimony in government hearings or investigations
• Making false sworn statements in any official legal proceeding

2. What the penalties are if someone is convicted

• This is a Class D felony.
• Punishable by:
  • Up to 5 years in prison
  • Up to $5,000 in fines
  • Plus possible probation

3. What the state has to prove to convict someone (Elements of the offense)

To secure a conviction, the state must prove all of the following beyond a reasonable doubt:

1. The defendant made a statement in an official proceeding
2. The statement was made under oath or affirmation
3. The statement was false
4. The defendant knew the statement was false when they made it
5. The statement was material (important) to the proceeding

Note: Perjury protects the integrity of legal proceedings by ensuring people tell the truth under oath. The false statement must be important to the case – minor details that don’t affect the outcome typically don’t count as perjury.

For the actual statute, you can visit Justia which has the actual law on its website.

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