What is "misprision of felony"

Misprision \Mis*pri"sion\, n. [LL. misprisio, or OF. mesprison, prop., a mistaking, but confused with OF. mespris contempt, F. m['e]pris. See 2d Misprise, Misprize, Prison.]

1. The act of misprising; misapprehension; misconception; mistake. [Archaic]
   --Fuller.

   The misprision of this passage has aided in fostering the delusive notion.
   --Hare.

2. Neglect; undervaluing; contempt. [Obs.]
   --Shak.

3. (Law) A neglect, negligence, or contempt. Note: In its larger and older sense it was used to signify ``every considerable misdemeanor which has not a certain name given to it in the law.'' --Russell. In a more modern sense it is applied exclusively to two offenses:

   1. Misprision of treason, which is omission to notify the authorities of an act of treason by a person cognizant thereof.
      --Stephen.

   2. Misprision of felony, which is a concealment of a felony by a person cognizant thereof.
      --Stephen.

Misprision of felony was an offence under the common law of England and was classified as a misdemeanour. It consisted of failing to report knowledge of a felony to the appropriate authorities. Exceptions were made for close family members of the felon and where the disclosure would tend to incriminate him of that offence or another.

With the development of the modern law, this crime has been discarded in many jurisdictions, and is generally only applied against persons placed in a special position of authority or responsibility. In this case, the offence of misfeasance in public office or malfeasance in public office may be considered instead. For example, corrections officers who stand idly by while drug trafficking occurs within the prison may be prosecuted for this crime.

It has been abolished in England and Wales, in Northern Ireland, in the Republic of Ireland, and in New South Wales and other Australian States and Territories, but has often been replaced by a statutory offence.