misprision

misprision, in law, criminal misconduct of various types. Concealment of a serious crime by one who knows of its commission but was not a party to it is misprision. Similarly, the failure of a citizen to attempt to prevent the perpetration of an offense can be characterized as misprision. (See also accomplice; accessory; and abettor.)

The term misprision also embraces the conduct of government officials charged with maladministration in public office. A third kind of misprision includes contempt for the sovereign or seditious conduct against the government or the courts.