California · Penal Code
PEN §4004: A prisoner committed to the county jail for examination, or upon conviction for a public offense, must be actually confined in the jail until legally discharged; and if the prisoner is permitted to go
What this law says, in plain English
A prisoner confined in county jail must remain there until legally released. Leaving jail without legal authorization constitutes escape, a misdemeanor offense.
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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.