Prison escape

Cell escapes occur through either the door, the window, the light, the ventilation system, by breaking down the walls, or by tunneling underground.

Methods include the destruction of the cell or compound walls, squeezing through tight spaces, or entering off-limits areas.

Escapees manage to evade this by studying the length of time between passes, waiting until it is on the other side, or using the cover of darkness.

Some escapes involve one or more inmates taking over an entire unit or section of the prison, subduing guards, and stealing weapons or other objects they can use to their advantage.

In some escapes, inmates construct makeshift dummies to give the appearance that they are in their cells asleep in bed.

Such dummies are crudely constructed often using papier-mâché, human hair, clothing, shoes, and other miscellaneous materials to serve as stuffing to create the appearance a body is present.

This may include the discovery of overlooked security issues, or taking advantage of guards who are not following policies or procedures, or are otherwise not doing their jobs properly.

Prisoners are often transported for work duties, to be moved between facilities, attend court hearings, for hospitalization and medical appointments, and other reasons.

Receiving aid from an accomplice outside prison walls, including those who provide a ride to the inmate following their penetration, smuggle in contraband as visitors, or use helicopters, among other methods.

Some of the preventive measures are: In some jurisdictions, including the United States, escaping from jail or prison is a criminal offense.

In Virginia, for instance, the punishment for escape depends on whether the offender used force, violence, or set fire to the jail, as well as the seriousness of the offense for which they were imprisoned.