frameup

A frame-up is a deliberate attempt to make someone appear guilty of a crime or wrongdoing by manipulating evidence, witnesses, or circumstances so that the person seems to have committed the act. Frame-ups rely on presenting a misleading impression rather than on actual guilt and can occur in criminal investigations, civil disputes, or workplace situations.

Common techniques include planting or fabricating physical or digital evidence, coercing or bribing witnesses, fabricating alibis, misrepresenting a suspect’s movements, or withholding exculpatory information. Frame-ups may involve collusion among corrupt officials, informants, or others who profit from a conviction, and can exploit biases in investigation, media reporting, or public perception.

Legally, intentional frame-ups can constitute offenses such as fabricating evidence, obstruction of justice, perjury, or conspiracy. They can result in wrongful arrests, prosecutions, and convictions, with lasting consequences for the accused. Modern criminal justice systems rely on safeguards—independent forensics, corroborating testimony, proper chain of custody, and appeals processes—to detect and correct frame-ups, including post-conviction DNA testing and exoneration efforts.

In culture, frame-up is a common plot device in crime fiction and cinema, where a character is framed to drive the narrative and later works to prove innocence. In political or journalistic contexts, the term may describe alleged attempts to damage reputations by presenting misleading cases or evidence.

See also: false accusation, wrongful conviction, framing, obstruction of justice, police corruption, due process.