Mississippi Criminal and Family Law Blog

There are a number of laws against helping people escape from the custody of law enforcement officials. These laws fall under the general category of “escape of prisoners.” One of these laws is “aiding escapes from officers.” You are guilty of this crime if you help someone who is attempting to escape from the custody of a sheriff, marshal, constable, or any other law enforcement officer. If you are convicted, you face a jail sentence of one year, a fine of $500, or both.

However, a much more serious offense is “aiding escape of felons generally,” or “rescuing prisoners from custody.” You are guilty of this crime if you assist in the escape of any prisoner who is lawfully detained in a penitentiary, jail, or any “place of confinement.” In order to be convicted of this crime, the prisoner must be detained as the result of a felony charge. You can also face this charge if you “forcibly rescue” a prisoner, regardless of whether the prisoner is a felon. The penalty for this crime is a maximum sentence of 10 years in the penitentiary. 

Prison breakouts might sound unlikely in the modern era, but they are relatively common in Mississippi. Over the years, many inmates have successfully escaped from incarceration, and many have been helped by people on the outside. Such was the case in July of 2020 when a man successfully escaped the Mississippi State Penitentiary and then fled the state. This individual had help from a 28-year-old woman, who picked the inmate up and helped him cross state lines into Tennessee. The man was then recaptured in Nashville after a three-day manhunt. 

Speaking about the fact that this inmate had been helped in his escape, Department of Corrections Commissioner Burt Cain stated: “Where we can, people will be charged to the fullest extent of the law because we do not tolerate people assisting fugitives.”

When many people see their loved ones incarcerated, they tell themselves that they would do anything to get them out. For most people, this is simply wishful thinking. But a few individuals are actually willing to go the extra mile, helping inmates escape from prison and even devising plans to free them. Make no mistake, this is a very serious offense in the state of Mississippi. Those who aid criminals in any way are looked upon extremely unfavorably by courts in the Magnolia State, and you can expect severe legal consequences. 

If you have been caught while helping a criminal escape from custody, you should get in touch with a criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. We can help you avoid unnecessary legal consequences as you fight for your rights in court.