Holding cell glitch

[Panderasaurus™]

I am having a problem with prisoner allocation that causes most of my prisoners to default to the holding cell eventhough I have plenty of cells and dorms available for them. One of my dorms has a capacity of around 100 or so but currently is filled with about 9 people while my holding cell has around 100 people. I have tried building other dorms and individual cells but at most they filled one 30 person dorm and only about 80 percent of the other cells. I checked the occupation level through the room grading and it seems to trend that the cells or dorms with higher quality levels remain unoccupied. Thank you.

[Terra]

The "problem" is that the cell grading system works in conjunction with a "privileges" system that each inmate has that you have no control over.

If you have nothing but high quality cells, as you're of course going to because who doesn't want to pimp out their prison, whenever a prisoner causes trouble they lose their "right" to a high quality cell and ends up in a holding cell if you have one, or sleeping in the yard if you don't.

The solution most people have found is to have a mix. Or a very large holding cell.

[Panderasaurus™]

Thank you for the response. That seems a little broken to me

[Terra]

It sort of makes sense if you think about it.

If the system wasn't in there, you could just load every prisoner's cell with enough items to completely nullify half their needs.

That said, you're totally right - I love shoving tons of garbage into people's cells, especially protective custody. Next best thing I've found is to just leave like a quarter of the canteen empty and just fill it with TVs/phones/weights.

[Clam Slamwich]

Oh thats why! Was wondering why after riots half my prison was in my holding cell. Every cell in my prison is rated like a 7-8/10. @-@ Figured my solitary cells were all full but now I know why. Thanks!

[glenhaig]

I have my holding cell designated "staff only" most of the time and only use it when I need it for over-spill. I had a problem in a previous prison where my holding cell was used for min-security prisoners and they tunnelled out and broke down the road gate and 17 managed to escape.