What Happens When You Sleep in Jail in Skyrim?
So, you’ve run afoul of the law in the frosty lands of Skyrim. Perhaps you liberated some precious jewels a little too liberally, or maybe you accidentally (or not so accidentally) introduced a guard to the pointy end of your sword. Regardless, you’re now cooling your heels in a Skyrim jail cell. But what happens if you decide to just tough it out and sleep through your sentence? The short answer: you skip a boring wait and your time is served, but it comes with a cost. When you sleep in jail in Skyrim, you’ll awaken when your sentence has been served. You will lose progress towards one or more skill level advancements; the longer your sentence, the more skills so affected. You’ll also emerge lighter, as all your stolen items will be confiscated, and any outstanding Thieves Guild extra jobs will be marked as failed. Let’s delve into the details of the Skyrim penal system and what awaits those who choose to sleep away their sentence.
The Skyrim Justice System: A Primer
Before we dive into the nitty-gritty of jail time, it’s important to understand the basics of Skyrim’s justice system. Committing a crime generates a bounty in the hold where the crime occurred. This bounty dictates how guards will react to you. If the bounty is low, they might just try to arrest you. A higher bounty, however, means they’ll attack on sight.
When apprehended, you’re presented with a few options:
- Pay the fine: This immediately clears your bounty, but you’ll lose all stolen items in your possession.
- Go to jail: Serving your sentence clears the bounty, but you’ll lose stolen items and some skill progress.
- Resist arrest: This inevitably leads to a brawl, often ending in your death or capture, potentially with a higher bounty.
- Bribe the guards: This option is available only if you have the Thieves Guild perk “Persuasion,” allowing you to reduce or eliminate your bounty.
- Escape: Trying to break out of jail.
Sleeping Through Your Sentence: The Pros and Cons
Choosing to sleep through your sentence is essentially choosing the path of least resistance. Here’s a breakdown of what happens:
The Upsides
- Bounty Cleared: This is the most significant benefit. Once your sentence is served, your bounty in that hold is completely wiped clean. You can walk freely without fear of being harassed by guards.
- Convenience: Sleeping allows you to skip the potentially frustrating experience of trying to escape (which can be tough depending on the jail).
- Time Skips: If you need to advance time for certain quests or merchant restocks, serving your sentence can be a quick way to do so.
The Downsides
- Skill Loss: This is the big one. For every day you spend in jail, you risk losing progress toward your next skill level in one or more skills. The longer your sentence, the more skills are affected. A seven-day sentence will clear advancement for every skill.
- Stolen Items Confiscation: All stolen items in your inventory are automatically confiscated. This can be particularly painful if you were hoarding valuable stolen goods for the Thieves Guild.
- Thieves Guild Penalties: If you have any active radiant quests (extra jobs) from the Thieves Guild when you are arrested, failing to complete them within the time limit results in a failed quest.
- Lockpick Removal: All of your belongings will be taken from you, except for one lockpick.
- Missed Opportunities: Being in jail means you’re not out adventuring, completing quests, or earning gold.
Mitigating the Negative Effects
While serving time in jail has its drawbacks, there are ways to minimize the impact:
- Store Stolen Goods: Before committing a crime, store all your stolen items in a safe location, such as your house or a Thieves Guild cache.
- Complete Thieves Guild Quests: Try to finish any outstanding Thieves Guild radiant quests before engaging in activities that might lead to your arrest.
- Use Standing Stones: Standing Stones like The Lover Stone grant skill experience bonuses, which can help you regain lost skill progress faster.
- Choose Your Crimes Carefully: Consider the consequences before committing crimes in holds where you have significant progress or important quests.
- Consider the Time Served: If it’s only a small bounty, and you have the funds, paying it off might be preferable to the skill loss incurred by even a short jail sentence.
Alternatives to Jail Time
Before resigning yourself to a stint behind bars, explore these alternatives:
- Pay the Bounty: The simplest option, albeit often expensive.
- Bribe the Guards (Thieves Guild): This is the best of both worlds if you have the Perk.
- Escape: Risky, but potentially rewarding. Each jail has its own escape route, ranging from simple tunnels to elaborate schemes involving manipulating the environment.
- Persuasion: If your Speech skill is high enough, you might be able to persuade the guard to let you go.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Skyrim Jail
1. Does escaping jail clear my bounty?
No, escaping jail does not clear your bounty. The guards will not attack you on sight if you manage to escape the keep/jail without being seen. You will still have your bounty but they will not recognize you. They might recognize you again if you commit another crime.
2. What happens to my gear when I go to jail?
All your gear, including weapons, armor, and potions, is confiscated and stored in a chest. You’ll be given a prison jumpsuit to wear. Your belongings will be returned upon release, minus any stolen items.
3. How much skill progress do I lose in jail?
The amount of skill progress you lose depends on the length of your sentence. A longer sentence results in a greater loss of skill progress, potentially affecting multiple skills. The maximum sentence of seven days will wipe out advancement progress in every skill.
4. Is there a maximum sentence in Skyrim?
Yes, the maximum sentence you can receive in Skyrim is seven days.
5. What happens if I resist arrest?
Resisting arrest will lead to a fight with the guards. If you are defeated, you’ll be arrested and may receive a longer sentence or a higher bounty. It’s generally not recommended unless you’re confident in your combat abilities.
6. Can I get my stolen items back after serving my sentence?
No, any stolen items confiscated upon your arrest are permanently lost. This is why it’s crucial to store them before committing crimes.
7. Which jail is the easiest to escape from in Skyrim?
The jail in Morthal is often cited as one of the easiest to escape due to its relatively simple layout and readily available lockpicks. Solitude is commonly known as the hardest to escape.
8. Do I get my clothes back after jail?
No, the clothes you were wearing when you were arrested are not given back to you when you’re released from jail. However, you are given a jumpsuit to wear while you’re in jail. You will get your main outfit back.
9. How do I pay off my bounty without going to jail?
The easiest way is to simply pay the guard who arrests you. Alternatively, if you are a member of the Thieves Guild, you can use your guild connections to have your bounty cleared for a reduced fee, depending on your rank.
10. Can my spouse be kidnapped in Skyrim?
Yes, your spouse can be kidnapped by Rochelle the Red, and she is demanding 5,000 gold for your spouse’s safe release.
11. Can my house be robbed in Skyrim?
No, your house cannot be robbed in Skyrim. Chests cannot be overloaded with items.
12. How do I get a bounty of 1000 in all 9 holds?
Simply travel to one of the holds, kill a guard in front of at least one other NPC, and run like the wind. Once you’re far enough away, fast travel to a different hold, kill a new guard, again in front of other NPCs, run, fast travel, and repeat. Do it for all 9 holds and you’ll have the achievement.
13. Should I go to jail in Markarth?
Yes, you have to go to jail as a part of this quest. I tried resisting and everything to avoid it, but I found no way of getting around this part (You can go ahead and kill those corrupt guards if you want, you’ll earn a bounty but you’ll still go to jail if you walk out of the shrine).
14. What are the worst crimes I can commit in Skyrim?
Some of the most morally questionable acts include:
- Betraying Saadia
- Sacrificing Friends
- Becoming A Vampire
- Killing The Emperor
- Eating People
- Killing Paarthurnax
15. Is it better to pay my bounty or go to jail?
It depends on your situation. If you have a large amount of stolen goods, it might be better to go to jail and avoid losing them all by paying the bounty. However, if you’re close to leveling up important skills, paying the bounty is likely the better option to avoid skill loss.
Navigating the Skyrim justice system requires careful consideration. While sleeping through your sentence is a convenient way to clear your bounty, the potential skill loss and the confiscation of stolen goods make it a decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Weigh the pros and cons, explore your options, and may your adventures in Skyrim be filled with more triumphs than trials! To further explore the intersection of games and learning, check out the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org.