Pa. Cons. Stat. » 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. (CRIMES AND OFFENSES) / Chapter 49
Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes

18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 4901 (2026)

 Definition.

✓ current as of May 2026
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CHAPTER 49

FALSIFICATION AND INTIMIDATION

 

Subchapter

A.  Perjury and Falsification in Official Matters

B.  Victim and Witness Intimidation

 

Enactment.  Chapter 49 was added December 6, 1972, P.L.1482, No.334, effective in six months.

Chapter Heading.  The heading of Chapter 49 was amended December 4, 1980, P.L.1097, No.187, effective in 60 days.

Cross References.  Chapter 49 is referred to in section 911 of this title; section 10104 of Title 3 (Agriculture); sections 17316, 17346 of Title 16 (Counties); section 6122 of Title 23 (Domestic Relations); section 62A20 of Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure); section 5508.3 of Title 53 (Municipalities Generally); section 6017 of Title 64 (Public Authorities and Quasi-Public Corporations); sections 2702, 3104 of Title 71 (State Government).

 

 

SUBCHAPTER A

PERJURY AND FALSIFICATION

IN OFFICIAL MATTERS

 

Sec.

4901.  Definition.

4902.  Perjury.

4903.  False swearing.

4904.  Unsworn falsification to authorities.

4905.  False alarms to agencies of public safety.

4906.  False reports to law enforcement authorities.

4906.1. False reports of child abuse.

4907.  Tampering with witnesses and informants (Repealed).

4908.  Retaliation against witness or informant (Repealed).

4909.  Witness or informant taking bribe.

4910.  Tampering with or fabricating physical evidence.

4911.  Tampering with public records or information.

4912.  Impersonating a public servant.

4913.  Impersonating a notary public or a holder of a professional or occupational license.

4914.  False identification to law enforcement authorities.

4915.  Failure to comply with registration of sexual offenders requirements (Expired).

4915.1. Failure to comply with registration requirements.

4915.2. Failure to comply with 42 Pa.C.S. Ch. 97 Subch. I registration requirements.

 

Subchapter Heading.  The heading of Subchapter A was added December 4, 1980, P.L.1097, No.187, effective in 60 days.

Cross References.  Subchapter A is referred to in section 3575 of Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure).

§ 4901.  Definition.

As used in this chapter, unless a different meaning plainly is required "statement" means any representation, but includes a representation of opinion, belief or other state of mind only if the representation clearly relates to state of mind apart from or in addition to any facts which are the subject of the representation.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 7 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1974–2025 · leading case: Commonwealth v. Brown, 872 A.2d 1139 (Pa. 2005).
Sort: Relevance Newest Treatment
Commonwealth v. Brown, 872 A.2d 1139 (Pa. 2005). · cites it 2× “[9] In contrast, upon reviewing the Crimes Code provisions governing falsification crimes, see 18 Pa.C.S. § 4901 et seq., it is not readily apparent whether falsehoods in unsworn and unwitnessed "declarations" such as are at issue here would be subject to prosecution.”
Commonwealth v. King, 939 A.2d 877 (Pa. 2007). · cites it 4× “18 Pa.C.S. § 4901. Last, the materiality requirement of the crime is statutorily defined under section 4902 as: (b) Materiality.”
Commonwealth v. Jones, 904 A.2d 24 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2006). · cites it 2× “2d 1003, 1005 (1996) (quoting 18 Pa.C.S. § 4901(1)).”
Timberlake v. United States, 758 A.2d 978 (D.C. 2000). “18 Pa. Cons.Stat. § 4901(1) (1999). 5 . At trial, Timberlake’s testimony was impeached with a prior conviction for attempted possession with intent to distribute cocaine.”
Commonwealth v. Lynch, 323 A.2d 808 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1974). “2 18 Pa. C.S. §4901 (1973) : “Whoever under circumstances or in a manner not amounting to a burglary enters a building, or any part thereof, with the intent to commit a crime therein, is guilty of unlawful entry, a misdemeanor.”
Woods at Naamans Homeowners Assoc. v. R. Cavoto & R. Cavoto (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2024). “The petition also attached the Cavotos’ unsworn verification, citing 18 Pa.C.S. § 4901, instead of Section 4904.”
S.M. Donahue v. PA DHS & PA SCSC (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2025). “2005) (concluding petitioners lacked standing based upon potential harm that was “wholly contingent on future events”); 13 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 4901, 4902(a)-(b), 4904. 14 71 Pa.”
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 4901(1) — 2 cases
Commonwealth v. Jones, 904 A.2d 24 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2006). “2d 1003, 1005 (1996) (quoting 18 Pa.C.S. § 4901(1)).”
Timberlake v. United States, 758 A.2d 978 (D.C. 2000). “18 Pa. Cons.Stat. § 4901(1) (1999). 5 . At trial, Timberlake’s testimony was impeached with a prior conviction for attempted possession with intent to distribute cocaine.”
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