Crimes Act 1961

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

119: Breaking prison

You could also call this:

"Freeing someone from prison using force is against the law"

Illustration for Crimes Act 1961

If you break into a prison using force or violence to free yourself or someone else, you can go to prison for up to 7 years. You will be in trouble if you use force to break into a prison and your intention is to set someone free. This is against the law in New Zealand.

This text is automatically generated. It might be out of date or be missing some parts. Find out more about how we do this.

This page was last updated on

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


Previous

118: Assisting escape of prisoners of war or internees, or

"Helping prisoners of war escape is against the law"


Next

120: Escape from lawful custody, or

"Running away from police or prison can lead to up to 5 years in jail"

Part 6Crimes 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).