Introduction

Riots in Prison Architect 2 can quickly escalate and threaten the entire stability of your facility. In this guide, we’ll cover what causes riots, how to prevent them, and the best strategies for quelling the chaos when things spiral out of control.

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What Causes Riots?

The best way to handle riots is to prevent them from happening in the first place. Riots typically occur when a significant number of prisoners feel that their needs are being neglected over time.

Common Riot Triggers:

• Lack of food – Prisoners will lash out when not fed regularly.
• Overly strict security – Excessively restricted movement can cause frustration.
• Unmet basic needs – Lack of hygiene, exercise, or recreation.
• Consistently high frustration levels – If frustration builds up over time, the prison will boil over.

Monitoring Prisoner Frustration

To assess the current mood of your prison, check the Frustration Meter in the bottom-left of the UI. Clicking it will show a heat map of prisoner frustration:

• Dark Orange to Red – Highly frustrated and prone to violence.
• Bright Green – Satisfied inmates who are unlikely to riot.

Clicking on an individual prisoner will show their needs panel, which helps identify specific frustrations.

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How to Prevent Riots

If you see rising frustration levels, act before it escalates into a riot.

• Increase mealtime frequency – Ensure prisoners have enough time to eat.
• Adjust security levels – Give inmates reasonable yard and free time.
• Expand facilities – Provide more seating, showers, and recreational items.
• Balance the regime – Allocate time for both work and relaxation.

By meeting essential needs early, you can prevent widespread anger and violence.

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What to Do When a Riot Starts

If a riot erupts, stay calm and take immediate action.

1. Identify the Scope of the Riot

• Click on the Frustration Meter to locate high-danger areas.
• Is the riot contained to one building? A small-scale response is best.
• Is the riot widespread? A prison-wide lockdown may be necessary.

2. Activate Security Measures

Click on the Security Measures Button (bottom-right of the UI) to open the action wheel.

• Use Bang-Up Mode (Cell Door Icon) – Forces all non-rioting prisoners back to their cells.
• Avoid Full Lockdown unless necessary – Locking all doors may trap staff inside with rioters.

3. Call in Riot Squads

Your standard guards will struggle to contain a full-scale riot. Instead, call in emergency teams:

• Riot Squads – Suppress violence and reclaim territory.
• Paramedics – Treat injured staff and inmates.

To deploy them effectively:

1. Select a Riot Squad from the emergency menu.
2. Right-click areas of conflict to direct their movement.
3. Deploy paramedics to triage areas and save critically injured prisoners.

4. Reclaiming the Prison

The top of the screen displays real-time riot information:

• Active rioters count.
• Riot duration timer.
• State intervention meter – If this fills up, authorities will shut down your prison.

To take back control:

• Neutralize rioting prisoners with guards and riot teams.
• Deploy staff to reclaim lost territory.
• Watch for orange zones – These indicate contested areas still being fought over.

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Handling the Aftermath

Once the riot is quelled:

• Tend to injuries – Use paramedics and doctors to heal wounded prisoners and staff.
• Repair damage – Rebuild destroyed facilities and infrastructure.
• Evaluate security weaknesses – Why did the riot happen? Adjust policies to prevent future outbreaks.

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Avoiding Future Riots

Sometimes, extreme situations require extra measures:

• Hire a Lawyer – A lawyer can bail you out if high casualties lead to shutdown threats.
• Use Save Reloads – If things spiral out of control, reload an earlier save to try a different approach.
• Improve Prison Layout – Better-designed facilities can prevent choke points that worsen riots.

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Conclusion

Riots in Prison Architect 2 are complex but manageable with the right approach. The key takeaways:

• Prevent riots by meeting prisoner needs early.
• Use bang-up and riot squads to contain violence.
• Reclaim territory strategically to stop unrest from spreading.
• Repair, heal, and adjust policies to ensure it doesn’t happen again.

Mastering riot control will make you a better warden and keep your prison running smoothly. Stay vigilant, stay in control, and good luck!