[HiTech RedNeck]

So if you falsely confess to a murder, that itself is a felony? What alternative world have we moved into?

[Maximum Leader]

Yes it would be,
and if you do falsely confess to murder, make sure you don't do it to a federal agent.
Under federal law, lying to a federal official is the same penalty as perjuring yourself in open court-- maximum 10 year sentence. In fact, lying to a federal official is a $10,000 fine and perjury (last time I looked at the statute) was only a $1,000 fine.

As a practical matter, most cases of false confession are due to either (1) mental condition or, (2) ahem, overzealous police interrogation. In either case, it would be unusual for a prosecutor to indict such a case. However, if someone falsely confessed to protect someone else, then they probably would go for a conviction.

Actually we have moved into an alternative world... most convictions (in the neighborhood of 90%) result from a plea bargain. Every day criminals lie in open court and confess to a minor crime they didn't commit so they don't face trial on a more serious crime they did commit. In those cases, the prosecutor is their accomplice. What a country!
:o)