Record tampering is the act of intentionally altering or destroying or concealing or falsifying of any document, record or other tangible object with the purpose of deceiving, concealing wrongdoing or obstructing justice.
Record tampering can involve both private records and public records and is a criminal offense.
Tampering of the records requires a deliberate act and not an accident or a mistake and the person doing the record tampering must intend to injure, conceal wrongdoing or deceive.
Tamping can also apply to public records such as official documents of government entities and private records which include documents of individuals or businesses.
Examples of record tampering include.
Refusing to hand over a public record when legally required to do so.
Falsifying of information on a government document such as a driver's license.
Destroying or concealing of evidence in a criminal investigation.
And altering of a document to change a date or amount.
Tampering with records is often a criminal offense and can carry penalties that range from fines to imprisonment and in some cases the record tampering can be a misdemeanor or it can be a felony.
Tampering of evidence or official records can undermine the legal processes and prevent accurate investigations.
Record tampering can result in serious legal penalties for the person doing the record tampering as well as can damage the persons reputation.
Record tampering is a serious offense which can carry with it significant legal and social consequences.