How Do Cell Searches Work?

[bmcarbaugh]

I get the broad gist -- they search your cell, they take your stuff. But how does it work SPECIFICALLY? Lately I've acquired a pair of Infirmary Overalls that lets me walk around the prison during periods where I'm supposed to be somewhere without acquiring suspicion, so when I hear my name called for a cell search, I throw on the overalls and run back to my cell, grab all my ♥♥♥♥, and take it to the next guy's room. This works, which is nice and intuitive, but I don't know WHY it works.

So how do cell-searches work? Practically speaking?

[Hex]

So cells are searched for two reasons. If they call your name during role call or if your toilet overflows and they notice it. when they go in the cell they search your desk. If there is any contraband (Items whose name is in red) you get busted or if there is an escape route out in the open (a hole in the wall or floor or the vent is opened. All you have to do so they don't notice is cover it with something. You can cover the hole in the floor with your deck or cement, the hole in the wall with a poster or a fake wall and you can cover an opened vent with a fake vent.

If you are caught and sent to the shu, all your contraband on your person, lying in the open anywhere in the prison (not in a container), any contraband in your desk and any work on escapes (holes and the like) are lost. Some exceptions are, walls replaced with posters remain as posters, contraband in other inmates desks is still there (although this can be overwritten by the daily refill the game does to simulate use by the owner) and other people claim that stuff lying in the vents doesn't get removed but I've never noticed this.

[bmcarbaugh]

I can confirm about the vents. I've been nicked a few times, and all my stuff is still there. I use the vents as storage.

[Finn]

I still havn't got a definitive answer to "Do they look UNDER the desk during a cell search?" despite trawling these forums, (half say yes, half say no), and watching countless YouTube playthroughs.

Trial and error is the name of this game, and because cell searches are random, it's the only thing I can't actively test. It took 18 days for my cell to be searched on my first playthrough, and its NEVER happened in Centre Perks, despite having less prisoners. It's bad enough waiting until night every time to test out how things work then...

[Fidel]

Originally posted by Finn:

I still havn't got a definitive answer to "Do they look UNDER the desk during a cell search?" despite trawling these forums, (half say yes, half say no), and watching countless YouTube playthroughs.

Trial and error is the name of this game, and because cell searches are random, it's the only thing I can't actively test. It took 18 days for my cell to be searched on my first playthrough, and its NEVER happened in Centre Perks, despite having less prisoners. It's bad enough waiting until night every time to test out how things work then...

I've had a tunnel on the go for awhile, and I haven't been found out yet, despite having my cell tossed at least once.

[Hex]

I'm fairly sure that if the hole is covered by a desk they won't see it. Most, if not all, of the people who are saying they will check under the desk occasionally probably left contraband in their desk or left an open vent but thought the guards found the hole.

It's also possible that the guards might check more thoroughly if the toilet floods but i'm not sure about that.

[Mrjoebobfred]

A guard will come into your cell and touch your desk. Any open holes on the ground will have their entrances sealed (The tunnel will still exist) Any open vents will be fixed, any contraband in your desk will be confiscated, and any holes in the wall will be fixed. If the guards don't find any contraband or escape attempts, they will not send you to solitary. Any bedsheets on the bars will be thrown down, and at night you can also get solitary for not being in your cell.
If a hole in the wall is fixed or disguised by poster or fake wall, they will not detect it. If a hole in the ground is covered by a desk or cement, they will not search it. If the vent is covered by a fake cover, they will not detect it.

[Clockwork Critter]

i had everything in vents and they found and took it all. in wall had few stuff then it was connected to a door i reaized and was taken.never had a desk search.keep stuff on u and dont bother with the detenctors

[zestoidgaming]

Actually the bedsheets on the bars doesn't matter if you got searched, its because if any gaurd wth a low opinion of you finds sheets on bars, they will rip em' down.

[Lance Boyle]

Do they search your toilet during a cell search?

[Towarzysz Bartz]

Do they search your toilet during a cell search?

[Jobo]

Does anyone know when it is safe to move your things back to your own desk? Or do you just have to watch for the guard to come in?

[Gripss]

Originally posted by Jobo:

Does anyone know when it is safe to move your things back to your own desk? Or do you just have to watch for the guard to come in?

Wait until the next Cell Search, just to be safe.

[Happ]

Originally posted by Towarzysz Bartz:

Do they search your toilet during a cell search?

No they do not, they only search your desk. They will also check if a vent is open, if so they search there.