Legal Definitions - tamper

Tamper refers to the act of improperly interfering with something, often by making unauthorized changes, with the intent to alter, damage, or corrupt it.

This term typically implies an illicit or unauthorized intervention that can have serious consequences, ranging from compromising the integrity of an object or system to influencing the outcome of a legal process.

• Example 1: Tampering with Evidence

  During a police investigation into a financial fraud case, a suspect gains access to their company's server room and deletes several crucial digital files and emails that could link them to the crime. This action constitutes tampering with evidence.

  Explanation: The suspect improperly interfered with digital evidence by making unauthorized changes (deleting files) with the intent to alter or corrupt the information relevant to the investigation, thereby hindering the legal process.

• Example 2: Tampering with a Product

  A disgruntled former employee of a food processing plant secretly introduces a non-toxic but foul-smelling chemical into a batch of packaged goods on the production line before distribution. While not harmful, the intent was to spoil the product and damage the company's reputation.

  Explanation: The employee improperly interfered with the food product by making an unauthorized alteration (adding a chemical) with the intent to damage or corrupt the product's quality and marketability.

• Example 3: Tampering with a System or Device

  Before a major sporting event, an individual manages to bypass security protocols and adjust the timing mechanism on the electronic scoreboard, intending to slightly delay the start of the race to favor a particular competitor.

  Explanation: The individual improperly interfered with a system (the electronic scoreboard's timing mechanism) by making unauthorized changes with the intent to alter its function and potentially corrupt the fairness of the event.