Is Perjury Only A Crime Against The State?

[puppetjr]

In a criminal case in Florida, the defendant commits perjury which affects the outcome of the case. He receives a lesser charge & sentence. Next the state follows with a charge of perjury - would the victims in the original case be considered victims of this crime or is it now a crime against the state?

[aaron]

In a typical criminal prosecution, the state is the adverse party. (e.g., Florida v. Smith.) The exceptions would be when a local unit of government brings the charge, and is named as the prosecuting authority instead of the state.

If the state can prove perjury without calling the victims from the original trial to testify, they don't have to call those victims.

Note, however, that there's a doctrine (the name of which temporarily eludes me) that in some jurisdictions prevents the prosecution of a criminal defendant for perjury, over testimony given at trial in his own defense.