Perverting the course of justice

Perverting the course of justice is an offence committed when a person prevents justice from being served on themselves or on another party. In England and Wales it is a common law offence, carrying a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Statutory versions of the offence exist in Australia, Canada, Ireland, and New Zealand. The Scottish equivalent is defeating the ends of justice, although charges of attempting to pervert the course of justice are also raised in Scotland,^[1] while the South African counterpart is defeating or obstructing the course of justice.^[2] A similar concept, obstruction of justice, exists in United States law.