Cell - Prison Architect Wiki (2024)

A cell is a basic Room for holding one Prisoner. Obviously, it is one of the key parts of your prison, and you should plan to construct one for each prisoner that comes under your care. A cell is always preferable to a Holding Cell for keeping your prisoners contained, not to mention happy. A multi-inmate alternative to the cell is the Dormitory.

In the beginning, a Cell has to have a size of at least 2 x 3 squares. The Lawyer may research "Small Cells", which will remove the minimum size requirement completely. With a bed and a toilet still needed, this then makes an effective minimum size of 1 x 3.

Cell Grading[edit | edit source]

Prisoners are entitled to better quality cells (if they exist) as they build up time for 'good behaviour' (shown in their tooltip). One day good behaviour is worth one point of cell quality. As soon as they misbehave, they will lose their nicer cell and go back to quality 0.

Guards will automatically swap prisoner room assignments from time to time, to try to match everyone to the right cell. How strict this is handled can be adjusted in the Policy report.

New incoming prisoners are entitled to an 'Average' cell when they arrive.

Prisoner's chance to misbehave is affected by the quality of their cell as compared to average: Prisoners in a below-average cell are more likely to misbehave, prisoners staying in above-average cells are less likely to misbehave, because they want to keep their room. If all cells do have the same grading, it does not have an effect.

Family cells, holding cells and solitary cells are not graded.

All cells are graded on quality/luxury, on a scale 0 - 10 (shown in Logistics -> Room Quality) and 0 - 15 if Cleared for Transfer DLC is enabled.

Each of the following objects increase or decrease its grading by 1 point:

1	Large Window Office Desk Chair, Leather Chair or Stool TV or Large TV Radio Bookshelf Shower Head Pet Bird Soft Pillow Sink and Mirror Canvas and Paints Punch Bag Comfy Bed

1	Old Bed Foam Mattress Slum, Rusty, Overgrown Wall and Derelict Wall

Room size

1 if cell is at least 6 squares big.

2 if cell is at least 9 squares big.

3 if cell is at least 16 squares big.

Windows

2 if cell has at least one outdoor facing window.

1 if cell doesn't have any windows.

Other

1 if PA system is installed anywhere in the cell block.

Padded Cell[edit | edit source]

Criminally Insane prisoners can be assigned only to the padded cells and padded version of Holding Cell. Other security level prisoners aren't allowed in. Installing additional objects in this type of cell does not improve its grading.

Cell Block[edit | edit source]

Cells which are accessible from the same hallway or room are considered to be part of a block. In the Deployment screen, cell blocks may be used instead of individual cells to expedite assignment of Guards and security zones. Be careful how many prisoners you connect with continuous hallways as anger may be passed from one prisoner to the next causing a Riot. Breaking up blocks into smaller chunks with doors is a good way to keep prisoners manageable.

Cell Status[edit | edit source]

Option that highlights all Cells and marks them red (for occupied ones) and green (for not occupied). You can hover with your cursor over the occupied ones to see who's assigned to them and left click to be taken to the Prisoner.You can select a prisoner and right click on the free cell to assign him to in manually.

Cell Status does not work for Dormitories.

Tips[edit | edit source]

• Apart from affecting the cell's grading, extra objects (and maybe more of them, e.g. Pool Tables or Weights Benches) allow the prisoners to easily fulfil their needs without any other people making trouble.
  • This is helpful for all prisoners, but especially in maximum security wings, where prisoners may be locked up large parts of their days.
  • Be aware that more objects in a cell also increase the time it needs to search the cell.
• Cells (as well as dorms) owned by a gang members are under their control. You won't be able to change the cell design in any way before you get rid of them; this includes adding objects, changing the floors or walls, and adding utilities.
• You can assign prisoners to the cells manually by selecting a prisoner and right-clicking on the cell you want them to live in. They will move or be forced to move by guards shortly.
  • Gang members are immune to this.

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