Escape of the prisoners from the Limoeiro, at Lisbon, 29 April 1847, during the Patuleia civil war.

A prison escape (referred as a bust out, breakout, jailbreak, or prison break) is the act of an inmate leaving prison through unofficial or illegal ways. Normally, when this occurs, an effort is made on the part of authorities to recapture them and return them to their original detainers. Escaping from prison is also a criminal offense in some countries, such as the United States and Canada, and it is highly likely to result in time being added to the inmate's sentence, as well as the inmate being placed under increased security that is most likely a maximum security prison or supermax prison. In Germany, and a number of other countries, it is considered human nature to want to escape from a prison and it is considered as a violation of the right of freedom, so escape is not penalized in itself (in the absence of other factors such as threats of violence, actual violence, or property damage).

Many prisons use security features such as CCTV, perimeter sensors, barred windows, high walls, barbed wire, razor wire, and electric fencing to prevent escapes. Even natural geographic features can play significant roles in preventing escapes; historically, mountains and islands were chosen as ideal settings for prison construction, given their significance in creating territorial isolation from outside worlds.

Methods

Numerous methods have been used to escape from prisons over time. Many escapes have been successfully conducted by inmates who have invented their own methods. Weaknesses that are found as prisoners escape are often corrected at numerous prisons around the world to prevent future escapes in a similar manner. This leads inmates to finding new ways.

The following are methods that have commonly been used by prisoners in escapes. In some instances, a combination of these are used.[1]

Cell escape

While some prisoners are allowed out of their cells at times, others remain locked in their cells most of the time, particularly those in solitary confinement. Many prisoners who are kept in their cells must find ways out of the cells. Even those who are allowed out of their cells at times still have plans that involve escape from their cells.

Cell escapes occur through either the door, the window, the light, the ventilation system, by breaking down the walls, or by tunneling underground.

Some prisoners have escaped by picking the locks on their cells, creating keys to their cells, sawing bars off of the doors or windows, carving away the walls, or breaking away the vent.

Containment penetration

Containment penetration involves breaking down or slipping through the physical containment of the prison, including that of the cell itself or the surrounding complex. Methods include the destruction of the cell or compound walls, squeezing through tight spaces, or entering off-limits areas. Prisoners often destroy their containment with homemade tools, smuggled objects, or other contraband.

Most prisons are contained on the outside by one or more fences, often topped with barbed wire or razor wire. Escapees manage to scale these fences successfully or cut holes in the fences, damaging them. These fences are also watched by one or more guards from a tower, but escapees manage to pass the fence when the guard is turned away, unable to see in the dark, or sleeping on the job. Outside the fences is often a perimeter patrol conducted by an officer in a vehicle, which stands as the final line of defense. Escapees manage to evade this by studying the length of time between passes, waiting until it is on the other side, or using the cover of darkness.

An uncommon method that has been used at times involves the digging of a tunnel under the facility that exits outside the facility.

Physical force

Physical force involves attacking guards with blunt force, homemade weapons, smuggled weapons, or weapons stolen from overpowered guards.

Some escapes involve one or more inmates taking over an entire unit or section of the prison, subduing guards, and stealing weapons or other objects they can use to their advantage.

Deception

Deception may involve fooling one or more guards into believing the prisoner is authorized to depart prison grounds for a legitimate reason, or the prisoner disguising himself or herself as a worker or civilian who can exit prison grounds without arousing suspicion, or the creation of a ruse to mislead guards.

In some escapes, inmates construct makeshift dummies to make guards believe they are in their cells, usually in bed, when they are not. This enables the inmate to gain a head start from the prison before guards discover they are actually missing. Such dummies are typically constructed quite crudely, often using the inmate's or another's hair, shoes, and miscellaneous materials for stuffing, hidden under a blanket to give the appearance a body is present.

Exploitation of weaknesses

Finding holes in the security of the facility, and taking advantage of them. This may include the discovery of overlooked security issues, or taking advantage of guards who are not following policies or procedures, or are otherwise not doing their jobs properly.

Exploitation of corruption

Taking advantage of intentional wrongdoing on part of prison staff. This may include the use of weapons or other contraband smuggled in by staff, or receiving assistance from staff who assist due to their personal initiative or by other means of compensation.[2]

Failure to return

Some lower security inmates are permitted to leave prison grounds temporarily on the honor they will return. These include those who depart for employment outside the facility or furloughs that allow time outside for periods of time.

Escape from outside

Breaking while in custody outside facility grounds. Prisoners are often transported for work duties, to be moved between facilities, attend court hearings, for hospitalization and medical appointments, and other reasons.

Outside help

Receiving aid from an accomplice outside prison walls, including those who provide a ride to the inmate following their penetration, smuggle in contraband as visitors, or use helicopters, among other methods.

When a banned item is smuggled, it can either be slipped through or tossed over the fence from outside, hidden in a gift to the inmate that is legal, or slipped past corrupt security officers. In some cases, the staff are the source of the smuggling themselves.

Escape from island prisons

Escaping from an island prison brings another challenge of crossing the water to free land. This can be done by construction of a makeshift raft or receiving outside help from the owner of a boat. In the famed 1962 Alcatraz escape, a makeshift raft from raincoats was confirmed. One additional theory is that a boat was used to transport them in the water.

Prevention

Prevention of prison escape includes the numerous security measures that are in effect. How many and which measures are used depends on the security level and specific institution. Some of the preventive measures are:

Structural

Prisons often have structural features such as barbed or razor wire, motion sensors, high walls and guard towers to prevent escape.
  • One or more fences surrounding the facility
  • Barbed wire or razor wire on topping fences that surround the facility
  • Razor wire on the ground between fences, thereby making one's presence in this area dangerous and possibly deadly
  • Multiple locked doors between the "pods" (sections of cells) and the exit
  • Cell windows made too narrow for a human body to fit through; iron bars are often fitted

Guard placement

United States Marshals observing prisoner transport to prevent escape
  • Rounds: Guards within the facility make rounds checking inmates at set intervals
  • Full-time watch: High-risk inmates are watched non-stop around the clock one-on-one
  • Guard towers: Guards in towers at corners of compound can observe edges of the facility and are often authorized to use deadly force against fleeing escapees
  • Perimeter patrol: A guard in a vehicle circles the compound from the outside, watching for escaping inmates

Technology

  • Surveillance cameras allow guards to monitor areas of the compound without being physically present
  • Security lighting provides nighttime visibility of exterior areas, including entrances, exercise yards and perimeter fencing
  • Microwave or buried RF sensors alert security if an inmate nears the fence or has entered a sterile area (protected area, such as the space between a pair of parallel fences, in which inmates are not allowed).
  • Thermal cameras detect heat signatures and can notify guards if an inmate (or other unauthorized person) is present in a restricted area or moving towards the fence
  • Video analytics that detect, track and classify people, objects, and vehicles near the perimeter
  • Alarms, buzzers, or sirens make guards aware if any doors or gates are open, signifying a possible breach
  • Perimeter intrusion detection systems sound an alarm if fences are climbed or cut. Some systems also provide guards with live audio feedback[3]

Routine

  • Head counts at set times to ensure the number of inmates in the facility matches the number on record
  • Cell searches to make sure inmates do not have contraband that can be used to aid an escape or commit violence against guards or other inmates

Punishment

In some jurisdictions, including the United States, escaping from jail or prison is a criminal offense. In Virginia, for instance, the punishment for escape depends on whether the offender escaped by using force or violence or setting fire to the jail, and the seriousness of the offense for which they were imprisoned.[4][5][6]

In Russia, escaping from prison is an offence that can result in up to four years being added to the inmate's sentence.[7]

In the United Kingdom, escaping from lawful custody is a common law offence; if any force is used, the common law offence is Breaking Prison.[8]

In Belgium,[9] Germany,[10] the Netherlands,[11] Sweden,[12] Austria[13] and other countries, the philosophy of the law holds that it is human nature to want to escape. In those countries, escapees who do not break any other laws are not charged and no extra time is added to their sentence.

Famous historical escapes

Helicopter escapes

Prisoner of war escapes

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Beam, Christopher (April 25, 2011). "The Great Escapes". Slate. Archived from the original on 2013-09-28. Retrieved 2013-09-04.
  2. ↑ "Timeline of El Chapo's Major Escapes and Captures". Time. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
  3. ↑ "Vibrasector: Large Perimeter Security With Up To 1000m Protection". Detection Technologies. 2 August 2018. Retrieved 2019-03-13.
  4. ↑ "§ 18.2-477. Prisoner escaping from jail; how punished" Archived 2009-01-17 at the Wayback Machine. Code of Virginia. Virginia General Assembly. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
  5. ↑ "§ 18.2-479. Escape without force or vio to jail" Archived 2010-01-16 at the Wayback Machine. Code of Virginia. Virginia General Assembly. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
  6. ↑ "§ 18.2-480. Escape, etc., by setting fire to jail" Archived 2019-09-02 at the Wayback Machine. Code of Virginia. Virginia General Assembly. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Man uses spoon to break out of Russian maximum-security prison". 9 May 2013.
  8. ↑ "Public Justice Offences incorporating the Charging Standard". The Code for Crown Prosecutors. The Crown Prosecution Service. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  9. ↑ Boyle, Robyn (10 Sep 2015). "No prison escapes so far this year in Belgium". thebulletin.be. The Bulletin. Archived from the original on 2018-08-07. Retrieved 7 Aug 2018. Prison escape in Belgium is not punishable by law, but escaped prisoners are punished if they commit criminal offenses in the course of trying to break out.
  10. ↑ Zubrin Gold, Judith (Sep 1979). "Prison Escape and Defenses Based on Conditions: A Theory of Social Preference". California Law Review. 67 (5): 1183–1204. doi:10.2307/3480011. JSTOR 3480011. Retrieved 7 Aug 2018.
  11. ↑ "Ontsnappen uit gevangenis is niet strafbaar". RTL Nieuws (in Dutch). 2018-12-28. Retrieved 2020-01-20.
  12. ↑ "Prison Escapes Still No Crime". Sveriges Radio. 2007-05-10. Retrieved 2020-03-05.
  13. ↑ "Correctional Services in Austria" (PDF). justiz.gv.at. Republic of Austria Federal Ministry of Justice. 1 Aug 2016. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2017-10-24. Retrieved 7 Aug 2018. Considerable attention is being focussed upon rights and obligations of prisoners [...] The violation of certain obligations of conduct is called a misdemeanour. Some misdemeanours are listed as examples: − Escape
  • McMillan, David (2007). Escape. Singapore: Monsoon Books. ISBN 978-981-05-7568-7.
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