{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/18.2-479.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/18.2-479.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/18.2-479.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/18.2-479.html"}],"law_id":351036,"edition_id":2,"section_id":351036,"structure_id":50207,"section_number":"18.2-479","catch_line":"Escape without force or violence or setting fire to jail; penalties","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 18.1-290; 1960, c. 358; 1975, cc. 14, 15; 1985, c. 555; 2005, c. 573; 2025, cc. 38, 41.","full_text":"A\n\nExcept as provided in subsection B, any person lawfully confined in jail or lawfully in the custody of any court, officer of the court, or law-enforcement officer, as defined in § 18.2-57, for violation of his probation or parole or on a charge or conviction of a misdemeanor who escapes, other than by force or violence or by setting fire to the jail, is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.\n\nB\n\nAny person lawfully confined in jail or lawfully in the custody of any court, officer of the court, or law-enforcement officer, as defined in § 18.2-57, on a charge or conviction of a felony who escapes, other than by force or violence or by setting fire to the jail, is guilty of a Class 6 felony.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1307460,"text":"Except as provided in subsection B, any person lawfully confined in jail or lawfully in the custody of any court, officer of the court, or law-enforcement officer, as defined in § 18.2-57, for violation of his probation or parole or on a charge or conviction of a misdemeanor who escapes, other than by force or violence or by setting fire to the jail, is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":1307461,"text":"Any person lawfully confined in jail or lawfully in the custody of any court, officer of the court, or law-enforcement officer, as defined in § 18.2-57, on a charge or conviction of a felony who escapes, other than by force or violence or by setting fire to the jail, is guilty of a Class 6 felony.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A"}},"ancestry":[{"id":50207,"edition_id":2,"name":"Escape Of, Communications With and Deliveries to Prisoners","identifier":"7","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":7,"parent_id":50197,"metadata":{"child_laws":16,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:24:36","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:30:28","permalink":{"id":1391433,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50207,"identifier":"7","token":"18.2\/10\/7","url":"\/18.2\/10\/7\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":50197,"edition_id":2,"name":"Crimes Against the Administration of Justice","identifier":"10","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":10,"parent_id":50131,"metadata":{"child_laws":65,"child_structures":7},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:24:29","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:30:26","permalink":{"id":1391223,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50197,"identifier":"10","token":"18.2\/10","url":"\/18.2\/10\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":50131,"edition_id":2,"name":"Crimes and Offenses Generally","identifier":"18.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":52,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":960,"child_structures":94},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:22:59","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:30:15","permalink":{"id":1391141,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50131,"identifier":"18.2","token":"18.2","url":"\/18.2\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":351025,"structure_id":50207,"section_number":"18.2-473","catch_line":"Persons aiding escape of prisoner or child","url":"\/18.2-473\/","token":"18.2\/10\/7\/18.2-473","metadata":false},{"id":351023,"structure_id":50207,"section_number":"18.2-473.1","catch_line":"Communication with prisoners or committed person; penalty","url":"\/18.2-473.1\/","token":"18.2\/10\/7\/18.2-473.1","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":351024,"structure_id":50207,"section_number":"18.2-473.2","catch_line":"Covering a security camera in a correctional facility; penalty","url":"\/18.2-473.2\/","token":"18.2\/10\/7\/18.2-473.2","metadata":false},{"id":351028,"structure_id":50207,"section_number":"18.2-474","catch_line":"Delivery of articles to prisoners or committed person","url":"\/18.2-474\/","token":"18.2\/10\/7\/18.2-474","metadata":{"court_decisions":{"0":{"name":"Logan v. Commonwealth","case_number":"2216031","citation":"600 S.E.2d 133","date":"2004-08-03","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1063755\/logan-v-commonwealth\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. FRANK, Judge. .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"COA<\/abbr>"},"1":{"name":"Williams v. Commonwealth","case_number":"Record No. 1484-88-3","citation":"407 S.E.2d 319","date":"1991-07-01","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1376769\/williams-v-commonwealth\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. Opinion .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"COA<\/abbr>"},"2":{"name":"Kionne L. Pulley s\/k\/a Kionne Lydell Pulley","case_number":"1203203","citation":null,"date":"2021-12-28","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/5312465\/kionne-l-pulley-ska-kionne-lydell-pulley\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"COA<\/abbr>"},"3":{"name":"Henry v. Commonwealth","case_number":"Record No. 0081-85","citation":"342 S.E.2d 655","date":"1986-04-15","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1391650\/henry-v-commonwealth\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 342 S.E.2d 655 (1986) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"COA<\/abbr>"},"4":{"name":"Lewis v. Commonwealth","case_number":"Record No. 1000-91-2","citation":"423 S.E.2d 371","date":"1992-11-17","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1420459\/lewis-v-commonwealth\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 423 S.E.2d 371 (1992) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"COA<\/abbr>"}}}},{"id":351026,"structure_id":50207,"section_number":"18.2-474.1","catch_line":"Delivery of drugs, firearms, explosives, etc., to prisoners or committed persons","url":"\/18.2-474.1\/","token":"18.2\/10\/7\/18.2-474.1","metadata":false},{"id":351027,"structure_id":50207,"section_number":"18.2-474.2","catch_line":"Bribery in correctional facilities; penalty","url":"\/18.2-474.2\/","token":"18.2\/10\/7\/18.2-474.2","metadata":false},{"id":351029,"structure_id":50207,"section_number":"18.2-475","catch_line":"Officers, etc., voluntarily allowing person convicted, charged, or adjudicated delinquent of felony to escape; penalty","url":"\/18.2-475\/","token":"18.2\/10\/7\/18.2-475","metadata":false},{"id":351030,"structure_id":50207,"section_number":"18.2-476","catch_line":"Officers, etc., willfully and deliberately permitting person convicted of, charged with, or adjudicated delinquent of a nonfelonious offense to escape or willfully refusing to receive person; penalty","url":"\/18.2-476\/","token":"18.2\/10\/7\/18.2-476","metadata":{"court_decisions":{"0":{"name":"Gross v. Tazewell County Jail","case_number":"Civ. A. 81-0123-A, 81-0140-A, 81-0142-A, 81-0125-A, 81-0168-A, 81-0261-A and 81-0280A","citation":"533 F. Supp. 413","date":"1982-03-02","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1507350\/gross-v-tazewell-county-jail\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 533 F.Supp. 413 (1982) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"District Court, W.D. Virginia"}}}},{"id":351033,"structure_id":50207,"section_number":"18.2-477","catch_line":"Prisoner escaping from jail; how punished","url":"\/18.2-477\/","token":"18.2\/10\/7\/18.2-477","metadata":false},{"id":351031,"structure_id":50207,"section_number":"18.2-477.1","catch_line":"Escapes from juvenile facility; penalty","url":"\/18.2-477.1\/","token":"18.2\/10\/7\/18.2-477.1","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":351032,"structure_id":50207,"section_number":"18.2-477.2","catch_line":"Punishment for certain offenses committed within a secure juvenile facility or detention home","url":"\/18.2-477.2\/","token":"18.2\/10\/7\/18.2-477.2","metadata":false},{"id":351034,"structure_id":50207,"section_number":"18.2-478","catch_line":"Escape from jail or custody by force or violence without setting fire to jail; penalty","url":"\/18.2-478\/","token":"18.2\/10\/7\/18.2-478","metadata":{"court_decisions":{"0":{"name":"Juan Luis Lopez v. 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Com.","case_number":"Record 071567.","citation":"661 S.E.2d 464","date":"2008-06-06","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1058486\/hubbard-v-com\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 661 S.E.2d 464 (2008) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"SCV<\/abbr>"},"4":{"name":"Hall v. Commonwealth","case_number":"2328083","citation":"686 S.E.2d 554","date":"2009-12-22","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1062298\/hall-v-commonwealth\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 686 S.E.2d 554 (2009) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"COA<\/abbr>"},"5":{"name":"Coles v. Commonwealth","case_number":"2053031","citation":"605 S.E.2d 784","date":"2004-12-14","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1063646\/coles-v-commonwealth\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 605 S.E.2d 784 (2004) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"COA<\/abbr>"},"6":{"name":"Henry v. 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Commonwealth","case_number":"2592064","citation":"654 S.E.2d 354","date":"2007-12-27","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1062896\/bowling-v-commonwealth\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 654 S.E.2d 354 (2007) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"COA<\/abbr>"}}}},{"id":351036,"structure_id":50207,"section_number":"18.2-479","catch_line":"Escape without force or violence or setting fire to jail; penalties","url":"\/18.2-479\/","token":"18.2\/10\/7\/18.2-479","metadata":false},{"id":351035,"structure_id":50207,"section_number":"18.2-479.1","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/18.2-479.1\/","token":"18.2\/10\/7\/18.2-479.1","metadata":false},{"id":351040,"structure_id":50207,"section_number":"18.2-480","catch_line":"Escape, etc., by setting fire to jail","url":"\/18.2-480\/","token":"18.2\/10\/7\/18.2-480","metadata":false},{"id":351039,"structure_id":50207,"section_number":"18.2-480.1","catch_line":"Admissibility of records of Department of Corrections in escape cases","url":"\/18.2-480.1\/","token":"18.2\/10\/7\/18.2-480.1","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":351034,"structure_id":50207,"section_number":"18.2-478","catch_line":"Escape from jail or custody by force or violence without setting fire to jail; penalty","url":"\/18.2-478\/","token":"18.2\/10\/7\/18.2-478","metadata":{"court_decisions":{"0":{"name":"Juan Luis Lopez v. 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The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 5 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1960, chapter 358; in 1975, chapters 14 and 15; in 1985, chapter 555; in 2005, chapter 573<\/a>; in 2025, chapters 38<\/a> and 41<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":351833,"section_number":"19.2-392.02","catch_line":"National criminal background checks by businesses and organizations regarding employees or volunteers providing care to children or the elderly or disabled","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-392.02\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":351123,"section_number":"18.2-57","catch_line":"Assault and battery; penalty","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-57\/"}],"permalink":{"id":1391483,"object_type":"law","relational_id":351036,"identifier":"18.2-479","token":"18.2\/10\/7\/18.2-479","url":"\/18.2-479\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/18.2-479\/","token":"18.2\/10\/7\/18.2-479","dublin_core":{"Title":"Escape without force or violence or setting fire to jail; penalties","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 18.2-479","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Except as provided in subsection B, any person lawfully confined in jail or lawfully in the custody<\/span> of any court<\/span>, officer of the court<\/span>, or law<\/span>-enforcement officer, as defined in § 18.2-57<\/a>, for violation of his probation<\/span> or parole<\/span> or on a charge or conviction<\/span> of a misdemeanor<\/span> who escapes, other than by force or violence or by setting fire to the jail, is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Any person lawfully confined in jail or lawfully in the custody<\/span> of any court<\/span>, officer of the court<\/span>, or law<\/span>-enforcement officer, as defined in § 18.2-57<\/a>, on a charge or conviction<\/span> of a felony<\/span> who escapes, other than by force or violence or by setting fire to the jail, is guilty of a Class 6 felony<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nESCAPE WITHOUT FORCE OR VIOLENCE OR SETTING FIRE TO JAIL; PENALTIES (\u00a7\n18.2-479)\n\nA. Except as provided in subsection B, any person lawfully confined in jail or\nlawfully in the custody of any court, officer of the court, or law-enforcement\nofficer, as defined in § 18.2-57, for violation of his probation or parole\nor on a charge or conviction of a misdemeanor who escapes, other than by force\nor violence or by setting fire to the jail, is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.\n\nB. Any person lawfully confined in jail or lawfully in the custody of any court,\nofficer of the court, or law-enforcement officer, as defined in § 18.2-57,\non a charge or conviction of a felony who escapes, other than by force or\nviolence or by setting fire to the jail, is guilty of a Class 6 felony.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 18.1-290; 1960, c. 358; 1975, cc. 14, 15; 1985, c. 555;\n2005, c. 573; 2025, cc. 38, 41.","edition":{"id":2,"name":"2026","slug":"2026","date_created":"2026-07-16 18:40:23","date_modified":"2026-08-02 15:14:36","current":1,"order_by":2,"last_import":"2026-08-02 12:37:30"}}