California · Penal Code

PEN §4550: Every person who rescues or attempts to rescue, or aids another person in rescuing or attempting to rescue any prisoner from any prison, or prison road camp or any jail or county road camp, or from an

Felony

What this law says, in plain English

Rescuing or aiding in the rescue of a prisoner from custody is punishable by state prison time if the prisoner was held for a death-penalty felony, or by state prison or county jail time otherwise.

Read the full statutory text

Every person who rescues or attempts to rescue, or aids another person in rescuing or attempting to rescue any prisoner from any prison, or prison road camp or any jail or county road camp, or from any officer or person having him or her in lawful custody, is punishable as follows: (a) If the prisoner was in custody upon a conviction of a felony punishable with death, by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 for two, three or four years. (b) If the prisoner was in custody otherwise than as specified in subdivision (a), by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170, or by imprisonment in the county jail not to exceed one year.

Verify at the official source: California legislative text

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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.