Tex. Codes » Penal Code · TITLE 8. OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION · CHAPTER 37. PERJURY AND OTHER FALSIFICATION
Texas Codes

Tex. Penal Code § 37.081 (2026)

False Report Regarding Missing Child Or Missing Person

✓ current as of May 2026
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Sec. 37.081. FALSE REPORT REGARDING MISSING CHILD OR MISSING PERSON. (a) A person commits an offense if, with intent to deceive, the person knowingly:

(1) files a false report of a missing child or missing person with a law enforcement officer or agency; or

(2) makes a false statement to a law enforcement officer or other employee of a law enforcement agency relating to a missing child or missing person.

(b) An offense under this section is a Class C misdemeanor.

Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 200, Sec. 3, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 3 cases, 2018–2020 · leading case: Enrique Arochi v. State (Tex. App. 2018).
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Enrique Arochi v. State (Tex. App. 2018). “See TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 37.081(a)(2). The probable cause for this belief was based on appellant’s interview with the police, where he stated that he had parted company with Morris before her disappearance because they were parked in different parking garages.”
Meagan Rena Work v. State (Tex. App. 2020). “See Tex. Penal Code § 37.081(b) (establishing that offense of false report regarding missing child is Class C misdemeanor).”
Meagan Rena Work v. State (Tex. App. 2020). “See Tex. Penal Code § 37.081(b) (establishing that offense of false report regarding missing child is Class C misdemeanor).”
— Tex. Penal Code § 37.081(a)(2) — 1 case
Enrique Arochi v. State (Tex. App. 2018). “See TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 37.081(a)(2). The probable cause for this belief was based on appellant’s interview with the police, where he stated that he had parted company with Morris before her disappearance because they were parked in different parking garages.”
— Tex. Penal Code § 37.081(b) — 2 cases
Meagan Rena Work v. State (Tex. App. 2020). “See Tex. Penal Code § 37.081(b) (establishing that offense of false report regarding missing child is Class C misdemeanor).”
Meagan Rena Work v. State (Tex. App. 2020). “See Tex. Penal Code § 37.081(b) (establishing that offense of false report regarding missing child is Class C misdemeanor).”
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