Prison Architect Padded Cells
Even experienced architects mess up padded cells. Avoid these common errors:
If you want to go beyond the vanilla game regarding padded cells:
Padded cells are a special room type in Prison Architect designed to safely hold mentally unstable or self-harming prisoners. They reduce risk of injury and suicide but require careful management, staffing, and monitoring to be effective and humane. prison architect padded cells
Cause: You haven't assigned the prisoner to the cell, or the cell failed requirements. Fix: Click the prisoner. Right-click an empty padded cell to force assignment. Check the room quality—if it’s "Poor," they may refuse.
| Feature | Standard Solitary Cell | Padded Cell | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Cost | Low ($500) | High ($2,000+) | | Breakability | High (Destroyed in 10 hits) | Zero (Indestructible) | | Prisoner Mood | Angry/Suicidal | Calm/Sedated | | Reoffending Rate | Increases | Decreases (if therapy used) | | Best For | Normal rule breakers | Volatile / Criminally Insane | Even experienced architects mess up padded cells
The Verdict: You do not need 50 padded cells. You need a dedicated wing of 5 to 10. Build them proactively before the "Volatile" population explodes.
To build a functioning padded cell, you must meet the following criteria: Padded cells are a special room type in
| Requirement | Details | |-------------|---------| | Size | Minimum 2x2 squares (though 3x3 or larger is far more effective). | | Walls | Standard indoor walls (no windows needed, but not prohibited). | | Flooring | Must be entirely Padded Floor (found under the “Floors” tab – costs around $20 per tile). | | Door | Can use a standard Prison Door, Remote Door, or Staff Door. Not a large jail door. | | Bed | One Prisoner Bed. | | Toilet | One Toilet (insane prisoners still need hygiene). | | Zone | Must be zoned as “Padded Cell” from the Rooms menu. |
Tip: Padded floor is essential – regular concrete or tiles will not fulfill the room requirement, and the prisoner will not receive the sanity restoration effect.
