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Correctional Facilities

The correctional system of Free City, United States, is a complex network of jails, penitentiaries, and high-security prisons operated by a mix of local government agencies and private contractors. Known for its overcrowded facilities, violent gang hierarchies, and controversial policing methods, Free City's correctional infrastructure reflects the city's long-standing struggle with crime, corruption, and systemic inequality. 

As of 2024, Free City maintains five major facilities, including the infamous Prison Isle, as well as multiple short-term detention centers spread throughout the metropolitan area.

History

The correctional system in Free City evolved from colonial-era holding pens established in Nieuw-Rotterdam (the city’s original Dutch settlement name) during the 1700s. The first formal prison was constructed in 1863 and stood where the current Bridgepoint County Jail operates today.

During Prohibition, organized crime surged in the city, prompting the expansion of jails and the construction of Prison Isle, originally a military fort that was decommissioned and repurposed in 1932. The postwar boom and subsequent decline of Free City’s industrial economy in the late 20th century further fueled crime rates, leading to mass incarceration strategies and the privatization of several facilities.

Today, Free City's correctional facilities are widely criticized by human rights groups, yet remain central to the city’s justice system and gang culture.

Major Facilities

Prison Isle
Opened: 1932
Type: Maximum Security
Location: Maze River, on a fortified island between Little Rotterdam and The Maze
Operated by: Free City Department of Corrections (in partnership with RedShield Security Inc.)
Capacity: 5,600 inmates

Prison Isle is the most feared and isolated penitentiary in Free City. Surrounded by fast-moving river currents and only accessible via boat or helicopter, it houses the city’s most dangerous offenders, gang leaders, political radicals, and whistleblowers. Each wing is unofficially governed by dominant prison gangs, and the facility has long been plagued by corruption, violence, and internal power struggles.

Notable Inmates:
  • Raul “Boneface” Muñoz – Hitman for La Famiglia.
  • Officer Declan Rhoades – Former FCPD cop turned vigilante, convicted of murder.
  • Mister Green" – Anonymous hacker-leader of the Emerald Ghosts.
Bridgeport County Jail
Type: Short-Term Holding
Location: Delphsthaven
Capacity: 1,200 inmates

This facility is where most arrests in Free City begin. Bridgepoint is notorious for overcrowding, neglect, and bribery scandals. Its intake and booking area, nicknamed The Sauna, is frequently cited in complaints and lawsuits.
Fort Mahogany Penitentiary
Type: Medium Security
Location: Mahogany District, eastern Free City
Focus: Rehabilitation (officially)

Built in the 1980s as part of a citywide criminal justice reform initiative, Fort Mahogany was intended as a model institution. While some rehabilitation programs are still in place, the facility now primarily houses white-collar criminals and high-profile gang figures awaiting federal cases or transfers.
Nawphside Juvenile Detention Center
Type: Juvenile Detention
Location: Nawphside, near The Projects
Capacity: 300 youth offenders

Nawphside Juvenile Detention Center, nicknamed “The Box”, is a controversial facility known for its militarized discipline and recruitment of minors into major gangs. Activists have called for its closure due to numerous reports of abuse, solitary confinement, and psychological harm to young detainees.
Free City Police Central Lock-Up
Type: Temporary Lock-Up
Location: Basement of FCPD HQ, Financial District

Free City Police Central Lock-Up, nicknamed "The Hold", is used primarily for short-term holding, interrogation, and intimidation tactics. Many suspects report being held for hours or days without charges. It is heavily surveilled, though some rooms are allegedly “off the grid.”

Controversies

  • Free City's correctional system has been subject to repeated federal investigations. Issues include:
  • Alleged torture and forced confessions at The Hold.
  • Gang-controlled zones within Prison Isle.
  • Negligent medical care and preventable deaths at Bridgepoint.
  • Youth mistreatment at The Box.

Cultural Impact

The city's jails and prisons have become legendary in street culture, rap lyrics, and urban folklore. Doing time on Prison Isle or surviving The Box can elevate an individual’s status within gang hierarchies and street networks. Likewise, informants and “snitches” often disappear inside these facilities, never to re-emerge.