Plain language law

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Crimes Act 1961

Crimes affecting the administration of law and justice - Escapes and rescues

119: Breaking prison

You could also call this:

“Using force to escape from prison or help others escape can result in up to 7 years in jail.”

If you use force or violence to break out of a prison, you are breaking the law. This applies whether you are trying to free yourself or someone else who is locked up there. You can get in big trouble for doing this. The law says you might have to go to jail for up to 7 years if you do this. Remember, it’s not just about trying to escape yourself. If you try to help someone else escape by breaking into the prison, you can also get in trouble. The important thing is that using force or violence to break into or out of a prison is against the law, no matter who you’re trying to free.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM329011.

Topics:
Crime and justice > Criminal law
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118: Assisting escape of prisoners of war or internees, or

“It's against the law to help prisoners of war or people held in camps escape from where they are kept.”

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120: Escape from lawful custody, or

“The law says you can get in trouble if you run away when you're supposed to stay somewhere because of the rules.”

Part 6 Crimes affecting the administration of law and justice
Escapes and rescues

119Breaking prison

  1. Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years who by force or violence breaks any prison, with intent to set at liberty himself or herself or any other person detained therein.

Compare
  • 1908 No 32 s 141
  • 1954 No 51 Schedule 1
Notes
  • Section 119 heading: amended, on , by section 206 of the Corrections Act 2004 (2004 No 50).
  • Section 119: amended, on , by section 206 of the Corrections Act 2004 (2004 No 50).