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HomeWelfare and Institutions CodeDiv. 7Ch. 2Art. 5§ 7326 Assisting Mental Patient Escape

§ 7326 Assisting Mental Patient Escape

Welfare and Institutions Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 7326 Assisting Mental Patient Escape

Key Takeaways

  • •Helping a patient escape from a mental health hospital is against the law.
  • •You can get in big trouble, like going to jail or paying a lot of money.
  • •Even trying to help them escape or not bringing them back after a leave is illegal.

Example

If your friend is in a mental health hospital and you help them sneak out, you could go to jail or pay a big fine.

The law says you can't help anyone escape from a mental health place. If you do, you might have to pay up to $10,000 or go to jail.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 7326 Assisting Mental Patient Escape

Any person who willfully assists any judicially committed or remanded patient of a state hospital or other public or private mental health facility to escape, to attempt to escape therefrom, or to resist being returned from a leave of absence shall be punished by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code, a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or both such imprisonment and fine; or by imprisonment in a county jail for a period of not more than one year, a fine of not more than two thousand dollars ($2,000), or both such imprisonment and fine. (Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 15, Sec. 624. (AB 109) Effective April 4, 2011. Operative October 1, 2011, by Sec. 636 of Ch. 15, as amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 39, Sec. 68.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

imprisonmenthospitalpatienthealthfinefacilitypenal codeeffective april

Related Statutes

  • § 7254 Patient Identifiable Clothing Requirement
  • § 7325 Patient Escape Reporting Requirements
  • § 5276 Patient Judicial Review Rights
  • § 5306.5 Outpatient Treatment Revocation
  • § 5307 Outpatient Danger Hearing Petition

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Welfare and Institutions Code. Section 7326.
View Official Source