Compounding a felony was an offence under the common law of England and was classified as a misdemeanour. It consisted of a prosecutor or victim of an offence accepting anything of value under an agreement not to prosecute, or to hamper the prosecution of, a felony.Boyce & Perkins, Criminal Law, 3rd ed. (1992) at 576. To "compound", in this context, means to come to a settlement or agreement. It is not compounding for the victim to accept an offer to return stolen property, or to make restitution, as long as there is no agreement not to prosecute.
Compounding has been replaced by statutory provision in numerous jurisdictions that recognize common law offences: England and Wales, replaced with concealing certain offences or giving false information, subsection (5). This originally applied only to arrestable offences, but that distinction was abolished by the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005. Northern IrelandThe Criminal Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1967 (c.18), section 5(5) The Republic of IrelandThe Criminal Law Act 1997 (No.14), section 8(3) New South WalesThe Crimes Act 1900, section 341
Compounding a misdemeanour is not an offence at common law. However, an agreement not to prosecute a misdemeanor is unenforceable as being contrary to public policy.Boyce & Perkins, Criminal Law, 3rd ed. (1992) at 578.
See also Compounding treason, same sense of "compounding" applied to the crime of treason Misprision of felony, failing to report knowledge of a felony Theftbote, private arrangement between felon and victim, to obviate fines due to the King Perverting the course of justice, common-law offence Settlement (litigation), permitted in civil law
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