Does Going to Jail Clear Your Bounty in Skyrim? A Comprehensive Guide
Yes, going to jail in Skyrim does clear your bounty, but it’s not without its consequences. Think of it as the virtual equivalent of pleading guilty and accepting your sentence. While it might seem like a simple solution to that pesky price on your head, the reality is a bit more nuanced. Let’s dive into the details of how this works and what you need to consider before choosing this path.
The Nitty-Gritty of Skyrim Justice: Jail Time and Bounties
When you’re caught committing crimes in Skyrim, you accumulate a bounty in the specific hold (region) where the crime occurred. This bounty represents the price on your head, and guards will actively pursue you if you’re spotted with a sufficient bounty. Now, what happens when those guards finally corner you? You have a few options, and one of them is facing the music behind bars.
Accepting Your Sentence
If you choose to go to jail, you’ll be transported to the nearest jail within that hold. Here’s what you can expect:
- Confiscation of Goods: All of your possessions will be taken from you. Don’t worry, they’re not gone forever. They’re stored in a chest within the jail.
- One Lockpick Exception: For some reason, Skyrim’s legal system allows you to keep one lockpick. Perhaps they think it adds to the fun?
- Serving Time: You can either choose to sleep through your sentence (a rather boring option, even by Skyrim standards) or attempt to escape.
- Bounty Cleared: The good news is that upon completing your sentence, your bounty in that hold is wiped clean.
The Price of Freedom (Delayed)
While going to jail clears your bounty, it’s not without its downsides. The most significant is the reduction of your skill progress. Each day you spend in jail removes progress towards your next skill level increase. The higher your bounty (and thus, your sentence), the more skill progress you’ll lose. A maximum sentence of seven days will effectively clear your progress towards skill increases in every skill.
The Escape Clause
Let’s be honest, who wants to spend time in a virtual jail? Skyrim offers a way out, literally. You can attempt to escape from jail. This involves sneaking around, potentially fighting guards, and using that lone lockpick to break free. Escaping is a risky move, but it allows you to avoid the skill progress penalty. However, if you’re caught escaping, your bounty will likely increase, and you’ll be back to square one (or worse).
The Alternatives: Paying Up, Using Thaneship, or Other Methods
Jail isn’t the only way to deal with a bounty. Consider these alternatives:
- Paying the Bounty: The most straightforward method. Simply pay the guard the required amount, and you’re free to go.
- Thieves Guild Bribes: If you’re a member of the Thieves Guild, you can bribe the guards for a reduced fee (usually half the original bounty), assuming you have completed the necessary quests to establish the guild’s influence in that hold.
- Thaneship: If you’re a Thane of the hold, you can use your influence to get out of trouble once (per hold). This clears your bounty without any negative consequences.
- Console Commands (PC Only): For PC players, console commands like
player.paycrimegold 0 0 #(where # is the hold ID) can be used to clear your bounty instantly. Be aware that this is considered cheating by some.
The Verdict: Is Jail the Right Choice?
So, does going to jail clear your bounty in Skyrim? Yes. But should you always choose it? Probably not. Here’s a quick guide:
- Choose Jail If:
- You’re low on gold and can’t afford to pay.
- You don’t mind losing some skill progress.
- You’re looking for a role-playing experience and want to “pay” for your crimes.
- You are going for the “Jail Break” achievement.
- Avoid Jail If:
- You’re close to leveling up important skills.
- You’re carrying a lot of stolen goods you don’t want to risk losing (even temporarily).
- You prefer a faster, more efficient solution.
Ultimately, the decision of whether to go to jail is up to you and depends on your play style and current situation. Just be aware of the consequences before accepting that iron door slamming shut behind you.
FAQs: Bounty Clearing in Skyrim – All You Need to Know
1. Do bounties disappear over time in Skyrim?
No, bounties do not disappear over time in Skyrim. You must actively address them by paying the fine, serving jail time, or using other methods like Thaneship.
2. What happens to my stolen items if I go to jail?
Your stolen items are also confiscated and placed in the evidence chest. However, unlike your non-stolen items, they will not be returned to you upon completing your sentence.
3. Can I retrieve my items if I escape from jail?
Yes, if you escape from jail, you can find the evidence chest containing all your confiscated items and steal them back.
4. How much skill progress do I lose by going to jail in Skyrim?
The amount of skill progress you lose depends on the length of your sentence, which is determined by the size of your bounty. The longer your sentence, the more skill progress is affected.
5. Does changing my appearance at the Face Sculptor clear my bounty?
No, changing your appearance at the Face Sculptor will not clear your bounty. Guards recognize you based on your actions, not your looks.
6. How can I get a high bounty in all nine holds?
To get a high bounty in all nine holds, travel to each hold, commit a crime (like attacking a guard) in front of witnesses, and then flee to a different hold. Repeat until you have a bounty in each.
7. What is the easiest crime to commit to get a bounty?
A relatively “easy” crime is attacking a guard. Ensure there are witnesses present to report the crime.
8. How do I join the Thieves Guild to pay off bounties easily?
To join the Thieves Guild, go to Riften and speak to Brynjolf. He’ll give you an initial quest to test your skills, and upon completion, you can join the guild.
9. How does Thaneship help me clear bounties?
As a Thane, you can use your position to avoid paying a bounty once per hold. When confronted by a guard, choose the dialogue option related to your Thaneship.
10. What are the console commands to clear my bounty (PC Only)?
The primary console command is player.paycrimegold 0 0 #, where # is the hold ID. You still need to have the amount of bounty in your inventory to use this method, but your bounty will be set to zero.
11. How long does it take to serve a jail sentence in Skyrim?
The length of your jail sentence depends on the size of your bounty. Higher bounties result in longer sentences, up to a maximum of seven days.
12. What are the benefits of escaping from jail instead of serving time?
The main benefit of escaping from jail is that you avoid losing skill progress. However, it’s riskier and could increase your bounty if you’re caught.
13. Where is the evidence chest located in each jail?
The location of the evidence chest varies depending on the jail. It’s usually in a guarded area, requiring stealth or combat to access.
14. Can guards arrest me if I have a bounty in a different hold?
No, guards will only arrest you if you have a bounty in their specific hold. Bounties are localized.
15. Does being a vampire or werewolf affect how guards treat my bounty?
Being a vampire or werewolf can influence how NPCs react to you, but it doesn’t directly affect your bounty. However, if you transform in public, you’ll likely incur a new bounty.
Hopefully, this comprehensive guide has shed some light on the murky world of Skyrim justice and how going to jail affects your bounty. Now go forth and commit (or avoid committing) crimes with confidence! Remember, you can learn more about the intersection of games and learning at Games Learning Society, a community fostering research and innovation in the field. Visit GamesLearningSociety.org for more information.