• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
People are just learning it's legal to break out of jail in these countries due to a bizarre law

Home> News> World News

Updated 19:51 7 Nov 2024 GMTPublished 19:45 7 Nov 2024 GMT

People are just learning it's legal to break out of jail in these countries due to a bizarre law

Prison Break would've certainly looked quite different had the hit series been set in one of these seven countries

Poppy Bilderbeck

Poppy Bilderbeck

Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock Images

Topics: Crime, True crime, World News

Poppy Bilderbeck
Poppy Bilderbeck

Poppy Bilderbeck is a Senior Journalist at LADbible Group. She graduated from The University of Manchester in 2021 with a First in English Literature and Drama, where alongside her studies she was Editor-in-Chief of The Tab Manchester. Poppy is most comfortable when chatting about all things mental health, is proving a drama degree is far from useless by watching and reviewing as many TV shows and films as possible and is such a crisp fanatic the office has been forced to release them in batches.

Advert

Advert

Advert

Multiple countries don't punish prisoners for attempting to or successfully escaping prison as long as they don't break other laws while doing so.

Yep, you read that right. If you decide to take your chances and break out of prison in several countries then you won't even be punished for the act - as long as you do it in a demure and mindful fashion of course.

It's like hit series Prison Break but without nearly as much of the tension.

The T's and C's

It's not quite as straight forward as breaking out of prison, however, you see fit and walking off scot free.

The escape has to be considered a 'walkaway' escape which doesn't involve any other type of crime i.e. theft, threat, bribery. property damage or violence, Dr T. Markus Funk explains on the Oxford University Comparative Law Forum.

Advert

Basically, should you be caught following breaking out, prosecutors could charge you with any crimes you committed during or after the escape, but for the escape itself?

Well, you'd not have a single day added to your sentence for the act of breaking out in certain countries.

But which countries can you do this in?

The act of breaking out of prison without committing any other crimes is legal in certain countries (Getty Stock Images/ Claylib)
The act of breaking out of prison without committing any other crimes is legal in certain countries (Getty Stock Images/ Claylib)

Where in the world is it legal?

It's good news if you're in prison in Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Austria, Mexico or Chile.

Advert

Germany's argument for letting prisoners walk out of prison scot free as long as they've not committed any other crime in the process is because of human beings' innate 'urge to be free'.

Basically, the country's 'basic law' - which has been in place since the 1800s - deems it immoral to deny people their natural 'instinct to escape'. And it doesn't matter who the prisoner is, how many crimes they've committed or the severity of their crimes either.

However, even if prisoners do escape in Germany without breaking any other laws, should they be caught, it's reportedly likely they will be locked back up in more secure conditions given they're considered such a flight risk.

Some countries argue it's simply 'human nature' (Getty Stock Images/ Johner Images)
Some countries argue it's simply 'human nature' (Getty Stock Images/ Johner Images)

Advert

Mexico follows suit with this argument, the Federal Penal Code reading: "[N]o sanction will be applied to the prisoner who escapes, except when he acts in concert [with others to effect an escape]."

The Netherlands argues if a prisoner sees a way out of prison and doesn't take it that it's essentially a form of self-punishment in not taking advantage of a good opportunity.

Switzerland is reported as arguing escaping prison without breaking any laws in doing so is essentially harmless and is also a form of self-enrichment.

Austria's law doesn't list walkaway escape as illegal either and it's the same with Belgium too.

Advert

Over on Reddit, people shared their thoughts, as one was surprised that more countries had a similar rule after initially thinking 'Mexico was the only one'.

Meanwhile, a second said: "If I'm ever put in prison you can be damn sure I'm going to be playing the escape room for the rest of my life."

  • New DNA evidence leads to huge breakthrough in case of pregnant woman found dead 33 years ago
  • Bizarre reason Law and Order fans could be banned from sitting on Diddy's jury during sex trafficking trial
  • Fans just learning of horrifying tactic paparazzi used on Emma Watson at 18th birthday and it's leaving them 'disgusted'
  • Investigation launched after two tourists fall to their deaths at same hotel just weeks apart

Choose your content:

7 hours ago
8 hours ago
10 hours ago
  • 7 hours ago

    Hulk Hogan’s daughter Brooke reveals shocking reason she didn’t attend dad’s tributes

    Brooke Oleksy shut down previous reports that she and her late father were on bad terms

    Celebrity
  • 7 hours ago

    Expert reveals the 3 common names you should never give your baby for surprising reason

    All three are strong names that are popular today, but there's a reason why this expert doesn't think you should name your child them

    News
  • 8 hours ago

    James Gunn responds to Trisha Paytas naming baby ‘Aquaman’ following bizarre Ozzy Osbourne conspiracy

    DC Studios' co-CEO has reacted to the internet celeb having named her baby Aquaman - something she revealed on the day Ozzy Osbourne died

    Celebrity
  • 10 hours ago

    Fans spot Kelly Osbourne's 'subtle' tribute to dad Ozzy as she pays her respects during his procession

    The Osbourne family and the rest of the world are grieving the loss of a rock legend

    Celebrity