"To compound a felony" is a legal term that refers to an agreement between the victim and the offender, where the offender pays the victim money or other compensation to drop charges against them. The spelling of the word "compound" in this context is pronounced /kəmˈpaʊnd/ with a short "u" sound and emphasis on the second syllable. The spelling of "felony" is pronounced /ˈfɛləni/ with emphasis on the first syllable and a short "e" sound in the second syllable. Together, the phrase is pronounced /kəmˈpaʊnd ə ˈfɛləni/.
To compound a felony refers to the act of reaching an agreement or deal with a criminal offender in order to hinder the course of justice or to prevent the offender from being prosecuted for their criminal act. This action constitutes a separate crime in itself.
When a person compounds a felony, they essentially agree to conceal or cover up the crime committed by another individual in exchange for some form of benefit or consideration. This benefit might include money, favors, or any other form of advantage.
The act of compounding a felony can take various forms, such as agreeing to withhold evidence, providing false testimony or information, tampering with or destroying evidence, or even assisting the criminal in their escape or evasion of justice.
The underlying intent behind compounding a felony is to obstruct the legal system and prevent the offender from facing the appropriate consequences for their actions. By engaging in this behavior, the individual compounding the felony becomes complicit and also commits a criminal offense, thereby undermining justice and the rule of law.
Compounding a felony is a serious offense and is punishable by law as it interferes with the integrity and fairness of the criminal justice system. The severity of the punishment may vary depending on the jurisdiction and the specific circumstances surrounding the case.