Misprision of treason is an offence found in many common law jurisdictions, committed by someone who knows a treason is being or is about to be committed but does not report it to a proper authority. It is therefore unusual in that it is a criminal offence which may be committed through inaction. This article concerns the common-law legal system, as contrasted with the civil law legal system; for other meanings of the term, within the field of law, see common law (disambiguation). ... In law, treason is the crime of disloyalty to ones nation. ...
Misprision of treason originates in the law of England and Wales as a common law offence. It is committed where a person knows that treason is being planned or committed and does not report it as soon as he can to a justice of the peace or other authority. The offendor does not need to consent to the treason, mere knowledge is enough.
The crime may be punished with a fine or a term of imprisonment at the discretion of the court -- in other words without any set limit. It used also to be punished by forfeiture but that is probably no longer the case in England and Wales Search and seizure is a legal tool whereby police who suspect that a crime has been committed may do a search of the property. ...
United States
In the United States, misprision of treason is a federal offence, committed where someone who has knowledge of the commission of any treason against the United States, does not inform the President, a federal judge or state governor or judge (18 U.S.C. ยง 2382). It is punishable by a fine and up to 7 years in prison. In the United States, a federal crime or federal offence is a crime that is either made illegal by U.S. federal legislation or a crime that occurs on U.S. federal property. ... The President of the United States is the head of state of the United States. ... The United States Code (U.S.C.) is a compilation and codification of the general and permanent federal Law of the United States. ...
References
Halsbury's Laws of England, 4th Edition
William Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England, Book 4, Chapter 9
Negative misprision is the concealment of treason or felony.
Misprision of felony is the concealment of a felony committed by another person, but without such previous concert with, or subsequent assistance of the offender, as would make the concealer an accessory before or after the fact.
Positive misprision is the doing of something which ought not to be done; or the commission of a serious offence falling short of treason or felony, in other words of a misdemeanour of a public character (e.g.
Misprision of treason is an offence found in many common law jurisdictions around the world, having been inherited from English common law.
Misprision of treason originates in the law of England and Wales as a common law offence.
In the United States, misprision of treason is a federal offense, committed where someone who has knowledge of the commission of any treason against the United States, does not inform the President, a federal judge or state governor or judge (18 U.S.C. It is punishable by a fine and up to 7 years in prison.