Misprision
The Cyclopedic Law Dictionary · Walter A. Shumaker and George Foster Longsdorf; ed. James C. Cahill · 1922
The Cyclopedic Law Dictionary
In criminal law. A term used to signify every considerable misdemeanor which has not a certain name given to it by law.
3 Inst. 36.
The concealment of a crime. Misprision of felony is the like concealment of felony, without giving any degree of maintenance to the felon (Act Cong. April 30, 1790, § 6; 1 Story, U. S. Laws, 84); for if any aid be given him, the party becomes an accessory after the fact. Misprision of treason is the concealment of treason by being merely passive.
Act Cong. April 30, 1790 (1 Story, U. S. Laws, 83; 1 East, P. C. 139).
If any assistance be given to the traitor, it makes the party a principal, as there are no accessorifes in treason. Negative misprision consists in the concealment of something which ought to be revealed. Positive misprision consists in the commission of something which ought not to be done.
4 Bl. Comm. c. 9.