229A.5B Escape from custody — penalty.
1. A person who is detained pursuant to section 229A.5 or is subject to an order of civil commitment under this chapter shall remain in custody unless released by court order or discharged under section 229A.8 or 229A.10. A person who has been placed in a transitional release program or who is under release with supervision is considered to be in custody. A person in custody under this chapter shall not do any of the following:
a. Leave or attempt to leave a facility without the accompaniment of authorized personnel or leave or attempt to leave a facility without authorization.
b. Knowingly and voluntarily be absent from a place where the person is required to be present.
c. Leave or attempt to leave the custody of personnel transporting or guarding the person while the person is away from a facility.
2. A person who violates subsection 1 commits a serious misdemeanor or may be subject to punishment for contempt.
3. If a person commits a violation of subsection 1 and remains unconfined, the attorney general or the chief law enforcement officer of the political subdivision where the violation occurs may make a public announcement that the person is unconfined and may provide relevant information about the person to the community. The attorney general may also notify a victim or the family of a victim of the person that the person is unconfined.
4. This section shall not be construed to prohibit the use of other lawful means for the return of the person.
2001 Acts, ch 27, §1; 2002 Acts, ch 1139, §4, 27; 2015 Acts, ch 12, §1; 2018 Acts, ch 1165, §97
Referred to in §229A.8A
Structure Iowa Code
Chapter 229A - COMMITMENT OF SEXUALLY VIOLENT PREDATORS
Section 229A.1 - Legislative findings.
Section 229A.4 - Petition — time — contents.
Section 229A.5 - Person taken into custody — determination of probable cause — hearing — evaluation.
Section 229A.5A - Powers of investigative personnel before a petition is filed.
Section 229A.5B - Escape from custody — penalty.
Section 229A.5C - Criminal offenses committed while detained or subject to an order of commitment.
Section 229A.5D - Medical treatment.
Section 229A.6 - Counsel and experts — indigent persons.
Section 229A.6A - Transport orders.
Section 229A.7 - Trial — determination — commitment procedure — chapter 28E agreements — mistrials.
Section 229A.8A - Transitional release.
Section 229A.8B - Violations of transitional release.
Section 229A.9 - Detention and commitment to conform to constitutional requirements.
Section 229A.9A - Release with supervision.
Section 229A.9B - Violations of release with supervision.
Section 229A.10 - Petition for discharge — procedure.
Section 229A.11 - Subsequent discharge or transitional release petitions — limitations.
Section 229A.12 - Director of human services — responsibility for costs — reimbursement.
Section 229A.12A - Director of the department of corrections — responsibility for safekeeper.
Section 229A.13 - Severability.
Section 229A.14 - Release of confidential or privileged information and records.
Section 229A.15 - Court records — sealed and opened by court order.
Section 229A.15A - Civil protective order.