N.Y. Correction Law § 514: Confinement of civil prisoner

§ 514. Confinement of civil prisoner. A civil prisoner, committed to

jail upon process for contempt, or committed for misconduct in a case

prescribed by law, must be actually confined and detained within the

jail, until he is discharged by due course of law, or is removed to

another jail or place of confinement, in a case prescribed by law. A

sheriff or keeper of a jail, who suffers such a prisoner to go or be at

large out of his jail; except by virtue of a writ of habeas corpus, or

by the special direction of the court committing him, or in a case

specially prescribed by law; is liable to the party aggrieved, for his

damages sustained thereby, and is guilty of a misdemeanor. If the

commitment was for the nonpayment of a sum of money, the amount thereof,

with interest, is the measure of damages.