明清州县狱囚的脱逃与处置

狱囚的入狱是朝廷使用强制力的结果，体现的是朝廷对狱囚的惩罚，并非狱囚本人的意愿。由于监狱的环境、衣食医疗条件差，人身自由受到监舍、狱具的限制，还可能受到牢头、狱卒的敲诈欺凌，狱囚的身心都受到很大损害，处于极端痛苦之中。特别是对于已决待执行的囚犯，他们更面临着朝廷刑罚的严厉惩罚。所以，脱离监狱，重获自由是许多狱囚的愿望，其中有一部分狱囚在特定条件下将脱逃的欲望变成了行为。狱囚的逃脱是对朝廷和法律权威以及监狱制度的挑战，当然为朝廷所严禁。

The Breakout and Disposal of Inmates in the Ming and Qing County Prisons

Imprisonment of the convicted inmates is the severe punishment as a result of the strong power of the Court rather than the will of the inmates themselves. Due to the poor living and medical conditions of prisons, as well as restric- tions on personal freedom, restrictions on prison utensils, and even the possibility of being blackmailed and cheated by a lead prison thug or other jailers, the inmates suffered both physically and mentally in great pain. Thus, it was the desire of most inmates to escape from prison and regain freedom, and some of them actually turned this desire into action. As the inmates＇ breakout was a challenge to the Court and the legal authorities, it was consequently strictly prohibited by the Court.