SION

(From the Fr. mespris, contempt, or negligence.) In Criminal Law, in its larger sense, it is used to signify every considerable misdemeanor which has not a certain name given to it in the law; and it is said that the offence of misprision is involved in every treason or felony whatsoever. Generally, however, by the word misprision is understood the contempt or neglect, that is, the non-disclosure or concealment, of any treason or felony, committed or to be committed, which a man is cognizant of, but has never a ented to; for if he expre ly a ented, this makes him, in a case of treason, a principal, and, in a case of felony, either a principal or acce orjr, according to circumstances. Misprision of treason is punished by lo of the profits of lands during life, forfeiture of goods, and imprisonment for life. Misprision of felony in a public officer is punished by imprisonment for a year and a day; in a common person, by imprisonment for a le discretionary time; and in both by fine. [s. 768]