Use of force to prevent escape from confinement
A guard or law enforcement officer can use physical force to stop someone from escaping from jail or while being transported. The officer can only use deadly force if they truly believe the escaping person is very likely to seriously hurt or kill someone if not stopped. If someone is charged with a crime and wants to use this law as a defense, that person has to be the one to bring it up in court.
563.056. Use of force to prevent escape from . — 1. A guard or other may, subject to the of 2 of this section, use physical force when he reasonably believes such to be immediately necessary to prevent escape from confinement or in transit or therefrom.
2. A guard or other law enforcement officer may use under circumstances described in subsection 1 of this section only:
(1) When such use of deadly force is under other sections of this chapter; or
(2) When he or she reasonably believes there is a substantial risk that the will endanger human life or cause unless the escape is prevented.
3. The shall have the of under this section.
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Source & history notes
(L. 1977 S.B. 60, A.L. 1983 H.B. 713 Revision, A.L. 2014 S.B. 491) Effective 1-01-17
Legal information, not legal advice. Always confirm with the official source at revisor.mo.gov.