New York statute
N.Y. Penal Law § 205.00 — Escape and other offenses relating to custody; definitions of terms
Current through 2026 legislative session (LBDC text via OpenLegislation as of 2026-07-17)
Part of Article 205: Escape and Other Offenses Relating to Custody, New York Penal Law.
Full text of N.Y. Penal Law § 205.00
Statutory text current through the 2026 legislative session (LBDC text via OpenLegislation as of 2026-07-17). This publication reproduces the text of the Consolidated Laws of New York as provided by the New York State Senate's Open Legislation service (Legislative Bill Drafting Commission statutory text); it is not the official statutes of the State of New York.
205.00 Escape and other offenses relating to custody; definitions of
terms.
The following definitions are applicable to this article:
1. "Detention Facility" means any place used for the confinement,
pursuant to an order of a court, of a person (a) charged with or
convicted of an offense, or (b) charged with being or adjudicated a
youthful offender, person in need of supervision or juvenile delinquent,
or (c) held for extradition or as a material witness, or (d) otherwise
confined pursuant to an order of a court.
2. "Custody" means restraint by a public servant pursuant to an
authorized arrest or an order of a court.
3. "Contraband" means any article or thing which a person confined in
a detention facility is prohibited from obtaining or possessing by
statute, rule, regulation or order.
4. "Dangerous contraband" means contraband which is capable of such
use as may endanger the safety or security of a detention facility or
any person therein.
Official sources
Legal terms used in this section
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.