Compounding of Felony

Compounding of Felony, in England, is the offence of taking value for forbearing to prosecute a felony, and is punishable with fine and imprisonment. The offence is also known as agreement not to prosecute, and is equally committed where the agreement is only to show favour to the person accused. It practically amounts to misprision of felony. Compounding of informations upon penal statutes, and compounding of misdemeanours, without order or consent of the court, are punishable in a lighter degree, and that whether any offence has been committed or not. But in misdemeanours affecting some private rights, the court will often permit the prosecutor to accept pecuniary amends, and withdraw the prosecution. Advertising a reward for stolen property, coupled with words implying that no questions will be asked, or that no prosecution will be instituted, or that a pawnbroker returning the property will be paid what he has advanced on it, is punishable by a fine of £50 each on the advertiser, publisher, and printer. And any one taking money or reward for restoring a stolen dog is liable to imprisonment for eighteen months.