Which action constitutes Tampering with Government Record?

• A. Knowingly destroys or conceals a governmental record to impair its verity
• B. Filing a false report about a missing person
• C. Impersonating a public servant
• D. Leaving a court session early

Answer: (A)

Tampering with a Governmental Record focuses on preserving the integrity of official documents by preventing unauthorized changes or concealment. The key element is that the person acts knowingly and with the intent to impair the record’s verity—its truthfulness, accuracy, or availability. Destroying or concealing a governmental record directly undermines that integrity, which is exactly what this offense punishes. So, knowingly destroying or concealing a governmental record to impair its verity fits the statute precisely, because it shows both the prohibited action and the deliberate aim to corrupt the record’s truthfulness. The other actions—filing a false report about a missing person, impersonating a public servant, or leaving a court session early—are illegal in their own right but do not constitute tampering with a governmental record.