Better Jails Plugin Wiki › FAQ
Better Jails Plugin FAQ
10 questions players actually ask, answered.
How do I create my first jail cell?
Use the setup command to define a jail region by selecting two corner points, then assign it a name. Once created, players teleported to that cell will be confined within its boundaries until their sentence ends or you release them manually.
Can I jail a player who isn't online right now?
Yes, that's the Offline Jailing feature—you can jail players even when they're not on the server, and their sentence will begin counting down (or pause, depending on your time-counting settings) when they log back in.
What's the difference between online and offline time counting?
Online time counting means the sentence only decreases while the player is actively playing; offline time counting means the sentence counts down even when they're logged out. You can choose which mode to use in the configuration file.
How do I automatically change a player's rank when they go to jail?
Install both Vault and a compatible permission plugin (like LuckPerms), then enable the Vault integration in Better Jails settings—the plugin will automatically demote jailed players to a 'prisoner' rank and restore their old rank when released.
What happens if a jailed player tries to leave their cell?
The plugin prevents them from crossing the cell boundaries; they'll be blocked or teleported back inside depending on your configuration, keeping them confined until their sentence is complete.
Can I reduce a player's sentence before it's finished?
Yes, use the sentence adjustment command to shorten their time, or release them immediately with the early release command—both actions will restore their normal rank if Vault integration is enabled.
Does Better Jails work with Essentials?
Yes, when Essentials is installed, Better Jails automatically adds and removes the 'Jailed' tag on a player's profile when they enter and leave jail, helping other plugins and commands recognize their status.
What if a player logs out while jailed—do they keep their sentence?
Their sentence is saved and will resume when they log back in; the time that passes while offline counts toward their sentence only if you have offline time counting enabled in the settings.
Can I set different jail cells for different types of punishments?
Yes, you can create multiple jail cells with different names and locations, then assign players to whichever cell fits their punishment—useful for separating minor and major rule breakers.
Will Better Jails slow down my server?
The plugin is lightweight and only tracks active jailed players, so performance impact is minimal; however, very large jail regions or hundreds of simultaneous prisoners may require monitoring depending on your server hardware.