New York statute
N.Y. Penal Law § 205.50 — Hindering prosecution; definition of term
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 § 205.50
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.
205.50 Hindering prosecution; definition of term.
As used in sections 205.55, 205.60 and 205.65, a person "renders
criminal assistance" when, with intent to prevent, hinder or delay the
discovery or apprehension of, or the lodging of a criminal charge
against, a person who he knows or believes has committed a crime or is
being sought by law enforcement officials for the commission of a crime,
or with intent to assist a person in profiting or benefiting from the
commission of a crime, he:
1. Harbors or conceals such person; or
2. Warns such person of impending discovery or apprehension; or
3. Provides such person with money, transportation, weapon, disguise
or other means of avoiding discovery or apprehension; or
4. Prevents or obstructs, by means of force, intimidation or
deception, anyone from performing an act which might aid in the
discovery or apprehension of such person or in the lodging of a criminal
charge against him; or
5. Suppresses, by any act of concealment, alteration or destruction,
any physical evidence which might aid in the discovery or apprehension
of such person or in the lodging of a criminal charge against him; or
6. Aids such person to protect or expeditiously profit from an
advantage derived from such crime.
Official sources
Legal terms used in this section
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.