Penal Law § 205.50

Hindering prosecution; definition of term · as in force on May 31, 2026

§ 205.50 Hindering prosecution; definition of term.

As used in sections 205.55, 205.60 and 205.65, a person "renders criminal assistance" when, with intent to prevent, hinder or delay the discovery or apprehension of, or the lodging of a criminal charge against, a person who he knows or believes has committed a crime or is being sought by law enforcement officials for the commission of a crime, or with intent to assist a person in profiting or benefiting from the commission of a crime, he:

1. Harbors or conceals such person; or

2. Warns such person of impending discovery or apprehension; or

3. Provides such person with money, transportation, weapon, disguise or other means of avoiding discovery or apprehension; or

4. Prevents or obstructs, by means of force, intimidation or deception, anyone from performing an act which might aid in the discovery or apprehension of such person or in the lodging of a criminal charge against him; or

5. Suppresses, by any act of concealment, alteration or destruction, any physical evidence which might aid in the discovery or apprehension of such person or in the lodging of a criminal charge against him; or

6. Aids such person to protect or expeditiously profit from an advantage derived from such crime.

Official sourcehttps://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PEN/205.50

In plain English

As used in §§ 205.55, 205.60, and 205.65, a person renders criminal assistance when, intending to prevent, hinder, or delay the discovery or apprehension of, or the lodging of a criminal charge against, someone the person knows or believes has committed a crime or is being sought by law enforcement for a crime, or intending to help that person profit or benefit from a crime, the person:

(1) harbors or conceals that person;
(2) warns that person of impending discovery or apprehension;
(3) provides money, transportation, a weapon, a disguise, or other means of avoiding discovery or apprehension;
(4) uses force, intimidation, or deception to prevent or obstruct anyone from doing something that might aid discovery, apprehension, or the lodging of a charge;
(5) suppresses physical evidence by concealing, altering, or destroying it, where it might aid discovery, apprehension, or charging; or
(6) helps that person protect or quickly profit from an advantage gained from the crime. ★

Marked in the text: penalties, time limits, sums of money. Editorial emphasis added by this edition; it does not appear in the statute as enacted.

In print

This provision appears in Volume 4 — The Court Clerk: Penal Law; Volume 1 — The Court Officer in Plain English; Volume 3 — The Court Officer: Penal Law; Volume 3 — Your Career: Penal Law in Plain English.