Legal Definitions - aiding an escape

Aiding an escape refers to the criminal act of intentionally helping a person who is lawfully held in custody to get away. This means providing assistance, resources, or support to someone who is a prisoner or otherwise legally detained, with the specific intent that they will escape from their confinement.

• Example 1: A friend visits an inmate in a correctional facility and, during the visit, secretly passes them a small, non-metallic file hidden inside a book, knowing the inmate plans to use it to cut through a window grate.

  Explanation: By providing the file, the friend intentionally supplied a tool to a person in lawful custody, directly assisting their plan to escape.

• Example 2: While a defendant is being transported in a police vehicle from the courthouse to a detention center, a co-conspirator drives a separate car and intentionally blocks the police vehicle's path. This creates a diversion and allows the defendant to exit the police car and flee into the co-conspirator's waiting vehicle.

  Explanation: The co-conspirator actively created a distraction and provided a means of escape (the getaway car and blocking the police vehicle) for someone who was legally detained.

• Example 3: An individual working as a cleaner in a local jail discovers a detailed escape plan written by an inmate. Instead of reporting it to the authorities, the cleaner intentionally leaves a back service door unlocked and a set of facility keys in an accessible, unmonitored area, knowing the inmate intends to use them to escape.

  Explanation: By intentionally leaving the door unlocked and providing access to keys, the cleaner facilitated the inmate's escape from lawful custody, demonstrating an intent to aid the escape.