Starfield jail guide – how does it work?

Starfield jail guide – how does it work?
Alex Raisbeck Updated on by

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Wondering how the Starfield jail system works? The Settled Systems of Bethesda’s space RPG are full of unique and interesting cities to explore, and with cities comes law and order. Each location has its own laws which you’re required to follow, and if you’re intent on playing the bad guy, you’re going to have to make do with the consequences. That’s why we’re here to tell you about the Starfield jail system and how it works.

If you’re wanting to settle down somewhere in the Settled Systems, check out our Starfield houses guide to find out how. And if you’re wanting to know more about some of the available Starfield cities you’ll be visiting, we’ve got a guide for that, too. With that, let’s get into the Starfield jail system and what we know about it.

Starfield jail: A player handcuffed surrounded by armed soldiers.

Can you go to jail in Starfield?

If you’ve played previous Bethesda games like Skyrim, a lot of this will sound familiar to you, as the system works almost identically.

Like in Skyrim, cities have own laws which you have to obey while you’re there, such as not attacking people or stealing from them. Of course, while you can go ahead and do both of these things and more, you can face punishment for them, facing arrest for your misdeeds.

If caught, you can either go quietly to jail, pay a fine, try and fight back, or try to bribe your way out of it. This system is far more similar to the law and order in Skyrim than that of the Commonwealth in Fallout 4. Levelling up your Starfield persuasion plays a big role in bribing any arresting officers, so make sure to level that up if you’re planning on going on any crime sprees.

As well as the usual crimes of murder and theft, Starfield also includes smuggling contraband items. You can install special ship modules known as shielded cargo holds which allow you to smuggle illegal items between different planets. This is a great money maker in the game, but if you get caught, you’ll face pretty severe punishment. And, if you’re intent on play as a space pirate or smuggler, don’t miss out on the Crimson Fleet faction quest line.

That’s everything you need to know about the Starfield jail system. If you’re interested in finding out a bit more about the Starfield companions who will accompany you on your journey, we’ve got a guide for that. For a little help starting your playthrough, check out our Starfield tips and tricks, the best Starfield ships, how to follow distortions on the scanner in the Into the Unknown quest, and how to use a boost pack, something that’s not all that clear at the start of the game.