The psychiatrist’s view on the world’s greatest courtroom escapes

An expert psychiatrist has debunked the psychological impulses behind the world’s greatest escape from court.

Impulsiveness, opportunism and hard calculations all contribute to the split-second decisions made by those who make daring attempts to escape the courtroom.

In the work of forensic psychiatrist Dr. Sohom Das, he analyzes criminals as they make their way through criminal justice systems around the world.

The expert doctor cut his teeth working in Britain’s courts, prisons and secure psychiatric units – including the infamous Broadmoor Hospital, which houses some of Britain’s most notorious criminals.

In his career, he works with murderers, rapists, thieves and arsonists, acts as an expert witness in court and helps treat and rehabilitate dangerous and violent offenders.

Now Das has offered his insights into those who try to avoid their time by taking a break from it – and the psychological impulses that drive them to do it.

In addition to background factors, such as poverty and growing up in crime, character traits, such as a lack of empathy, can lead a person to look for a big break.

But in some cases, it’s just an impulsive and risky nature that tries to set them free.

Here, MailOnline examines some of the greatest court escapes in history – as well as the motive behind them.

Gerald Hyde II

Gerald Hyde II made an extraordinary escape in 2015, sneaking out of the courtroom, slipping out of his prison clothes and slipping out of the courthouse doors.

The handcuffed criminal, then 24 years old, made a daring escape dodging an armed guard while turning his back.

A video shows him fleeing court in Benton County, Washington, by taking off his shoes and removing his prison shirt before using it to hide his handcuffs.

He is then shown running out of the courthouse before simply fleeing the doors of the courthouse after being convicted of methamphetamine possession.

Police tracked Mr Hyde II to an apartment block just three miles away and returned him to prison less than two hours later.

Afterwards, the court reviewed its security measures and concluded that Hyde had managed to escape through a “blind spot.”

In his analysis, Dr Sohom Das said: ‘I think some criminals are quite impulsive and also risk takers.

“I think that’s relevant because that’s what we’re seeing here with these people trying to get out of court. It’s a reflection of their natural personality.’

Gerald Hyde made an extraordinary escape from a courthouse in Benton County, Washington in 2015

The handcuffed criminal, then aged 24, made a daring escape dodging an armed guard while turning his back

He took a break for it before running shoeless through the halls of court – but he wasn’t returned until two hours later

Kodey Howard and Tanner Jacobson

Kodey Howard, then 28, and Tanner Jacobson, 22, saw their chance to go for it

Two inmates tried to escape the Lewis County Courthouse in Washington – apparently with nothing more than a whim to get away.

Kodey Howard and Tanner Jacobson saw an opportunity to run for it.

However, judge RW Buzzard took matters into his own hands as he took off his black robes and chased after them.

Courthouse security footage showed the judge grabbing Howard at the exit door, while deputies grabbed Jacobson a few blocks away.

Jacobson, then 22, of Onalaska and Howard, then 28, of Winlock were each hit with a misdemeanor charge of second-degree escape.

It is not clear which charges the duo were initially facing in court.

Cameras around the building captured the drama of the escape attempt.

Staircase surveillance footage shows Jacobson taking charge and quickly descending the four flights of stairs to the lower floor, sometimes taking several steps at a time.

Inmates Kodey Howard and Tanner Jacobonson stormed out of the courtroom toward the exit

Dr. Das concluded: ‘Another element of some criminals is opportunism. So they don’t necessarily go out to offend. But if they see something there, like a possible burglary, they grab that opportunity with both hands.

“What we see here are just opportunistic opportunities to just run and escape the law.

“They’ll know there’s a possibility of another charge of escape from custody.”

Judge RW Buzzard was right behind him after taking off his robes and giving chase

Jacobson said after the incident: “We were sitting there on the benches together, and he said, ‘I’m going to run.'”

Howard explained his thought process during the escape by saying, “I said, ‘What am I doing? What did I just do? I have to get on with it now. There’s nothing – I can’t stop here.

‘There’s nothing I can do now. I’m screwed.”

Jacobson added, “I don’t even know why I did it. I’d be out of here if I hadn’t run away.’

Dr. Sohom continued: ‘I’m sure there is such a cost-risk balance in all their heads that they are calculating, maybe even subconsciously.

“For me it would depend on the length of their sentence. If someone has a fairly minor charge, it’s not really worth it because you can get caught and serve more jail time as opposed to someone who has a murder charge.

In addition, another element would be how likely they are to evade the police in the long run. So someone who has connections to the criminal underworld, who has colleagues who are going to help them, could succeed.

“But someone who doesn’t have that and has nowhere to go will be caught sooner rather than later.”