Events typically run Friday through Sunday afternoon. Exact times vary.
Facility 22 Role-Play Immersion Program
The F22 Jail Experience
Spend a weekend inside an authentic former county jail where the cells are real, the doors lock, and your choices shape the experience.
At a glance
A real jail. A structured simulation.
Facility 22 preserves the physical environment of a former county jail, including steel-bar cells, electronic doors, intake areas, cell blocks, a sally port, and specialty confinement spaces. The building provides the setting; trained event staff, consent procedures, and the Participant Rules & Conduct Code define the boundaries of the experience.
Government-issued identification and required registration information are used.
Registration does not guarantee admission until required screening is complete.
Phones, belongings, movement, routines, and role-play are intentionally controlled.
You can pause, speak privately with staff, decline an activity, or leave the event.
What to expect
From surrender to release
Every event develops differently. The outline below describes the normal progression, not a guaranteed list of scenes or activities.
Arrival
Approved participants receive the facility address, travel instructions, and an assigned arrival or surrender time before the event. Participants are responsible for their own arrival transportation and for arranging transportation after release.
Intake
Inmate participants surrender civilian belongings, are processed, change into an issued uniform, and are assigned housing. Intake is part of the role-play.
Institutional Life
Meals, counts, cell time, recreation, work details, movement, court, discipline, and other scenarios may occur throughout the weekend.
Overnight
Inmates sleep in assigned jail housing. Guards generally use barracks-style accommodations. Bedding and event meals are provided.
Transition & Release
The role-play gradually winds down on Sunday. Participants clean assigned areas, retrieve property, debrief, and depart by the published release window.
The experience
Your behavior changes your weekend
Facility 22 uses a flexible menu of scenarios rather than a fixed theatrical script. Choices, conduct, alliances, staffing, safety, and group dynamics influence what happens.
Daily Operations
Participants may take part in realistic institutional routines and work details.
- Kitchen or meal duty
- Laundry or cleaning assignments
- Counts, movement, and recreation
- Other operational tasks
Structured Scenarios
The weekend may include planned and responsive role-play scenes.
- Intake and processing
- Inmate court appearances
- Disciplinary hearings
- Transport or specialty assignments
Consequences in Play
Breaking inmate “soft rules” can create additional role-play—not real punishment.
- Loss of in-character privileges
- Housing or security changes
- Additional work or restrictions
- Discipline scenes within approved limits
Specific activities—including solitary confinement, padded-cell use, outdoor activities, transport restraints, an arrest scenario, or a particular discipline scene—are never guaranteed. Arrest scenarios begin only at the designated AmericInn or inside the F22 vestibule, as directed in the event instructions.
Participant conduct
The rules are not part of the game.
The Participant Rules & Conduct Code governs every Facility 22 role-play. These requirements exist outside character and cannot be ignored, negotiated away, or treated as an invitation to escalate a scene.
Respect signals immediately.
Green, Yellow, and Red communicate comfort and consent. Red stops the interaction. Hate speech, real-world threats, harassment, coercion, and nonconsensual sexual language are prohibited.
Review communication rulesPhysical authority has limits.
Physical contact must be authorized, consensual, proportionate, and subject to staff oversight. Inmate participation includes willingness to accept basic, controlled, non-punitive restraint.
Review contact rulesDo not defeat the building.
Staff-only areas, locks, cameras, alarms, doors, safety systems, equipment, and the emergency release system are governed by hard safety rules. Facility property must be used only as intended.
Review facility rulesRemoval can be immediate.
Staff may warn participants, change roles or privileges, stop activities, remove a participant, or assess damage costs. Serious or repeated violations may result in removal without refund.
Review consequencesChoose your side
Inmate or guard
Both roles are participants in the same simulation. Guards operate within event rules and staff direction; inmates agree to a baseline level of controlled authority and restraint.
Surrender control and live inside the system.
Inmate participation is the more restrictive side of the event. Expect your property, movement, routine, housing, and access to conveniences to be controlled while you are in character.
- Issued inmate uniform and assigned sleeping accommodations
- Locked housing and directed movement may be used
- Basic, controlled correctional restraints are part of the baseline experience as described in the Conduct Code
- Rules, work details, searches, counts, hearings, and discipline may occur
- Limited access to phones and stored personal belongings
- Compliance affects the flow and intensity of your role-play
Maintain order while protecting the simulation.
Guard participants help create the inmate experience while following event plans, safety rules, consent boundaries, staffing assignments, and administrative direction.
- Role-specific uniform and approved duty gear are generally required
- Guards receive operational assignments and event briefings
- Authority exists only inside the role-play and within the boundaries established by staff and the Conduct Code
- Guards must respond immediately to safety, consent, and out-of-character signals
- Overnight lodging is generally barracks-style rather than a locked inmate cell
- The guard role requires consistency, judgment, teamwork, and long active periods
Consent and safety
Immersion never removes your right to stop.
You are not actually incarcerated. Role authority, confinement, restraint, and discipline exist only within a voluntary simulation and the boundaries established by the Participant Rules & Conduct Code.
Private out-of-character conversation
“I want to speak with my lawyer.”
This preferred phrase tells a guard that you need to speak privately with a staff or administrative team member outside the role-play. The complete withdrawal and opt-out procedure appears in the Conduct Code.
Everything is good. Continue at the current level.
Slow down, reduce intensity, or check in before continuing.
Stop the interaction immediately and reset or end the scene.
- Either guards or inmates may use the Traffic Light Protocol described in the Conduct Code.
- Staff may pause or end any activity at any time.
- Each cell has a call button for out-of-character issues and a whistle for a perceived emergency; follow the response procedure explained during briefing.
- Medical or safety concerns must be disclosed and reported promptly.
- Ignoring opt-out signals, safety commands, or consent boundaries is prohibited and may result in immediate removal.
- Bodily-fluid play is prohibited, and medical needs must be reported immediately.
- Review the complete Safety, Health & Opt-Out rules before attending.
Physical conditions
Authenticity includes inconvenience.
Facility 22 was built to confine people, not to function like a modern hotel. Guests should be prepared for the physical and sensory realities of a preserved jail environment.
Concrete and steel
Hard walls, bunks, bars, thresholds, stairs, doors, and fixtures are unforgiving.
Noise travels
Voices, doors, plumbing, movement, kitchens, and other cell blocks may be heard. A silent or sensory-deprivation environment should not be expected.
Interrupted rest
Institutional routines and other participants may affect sleep. Bring only approved sleep or medical items listed in your event instructions.
Limited privacy
Jail housing and common areas are communal by design. Security cameras operate in designated areas. Recording, photography, and media use are subject to the Conduct Code and event-specific consent instructions.
Controlled movement
Inmates may not be free to leave a cell block, access belongings, shower, eat, or move on their preferred schedule.
No guaranteed scene
The event changes with staffing, safety, consent, weather, participant choices, and the needs of the overall simulation.
Choose the right event
Full immersion or Jail Experience LITE?
Jail Experience LITE is being offered separately for guests who want to explore the facility and sleep in a cell without committing to the intensity and restrictions of the full weekend simulation.
| Feature | Full Jail Experience | Jail Experience LITE |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Fully immersive jail role-play with sustained character and institutional structure. | A relaxed introduction and overnight taste of Facility 22. |
| Length | Typically Friday through Sunday afternoon. | A shorter single overnight event. |
| Vetting | Required screening and approval before admission. | No standard role-play vetting; valid photo ID is still required. |
| Cell doors | May be locked as part of the controlled simulation. | Sleeping cells remain unlocked. |
| Movement | Directed and restricted according to role, schedule, and staff instructions. | Guests may move freely within designated areas. |
| Restraints | Real correctional restraints may be used within approved limits; basic restraint is part of the inmate role. | Only non-locking training restraints are used. |
| Intensity | Can be demanding, unpredictable, uncomfortable, and psychologically immersive. | Light activities and interactions at a more relaxed pace. |
| Best for | Participants ready to give up convenience and control for a full role-play weekend. | First-time guests, curious visitors, and anyone unsure about full immersion. |
Self-assessment
Is the full experience right for you?
Booking because the idea sounds exciting is not enough. Consider how you respond to restrictions, uncertainty, authority, noise, close quarters, and loss of routine.
You may be a good fit if you…
- Want sustained, interactive role-play rather than passive entertainment.
- Can follow directions without turning every instruction into a real-world conflict.
- Understand that boredom and waiting can be part of an authentic jail experience.
- Can communicate boundaries clearly and follow the Traffic Light Protocol.
- Are willing to accept basic restraint and locked housing as an inmate.
- Can adapt when the weekend does not follow your imagined script.
Choose LITE or reconsider if you…
- Need unrestricted movement, constant phone access, or complete control of your schedule.
- Expect guaranteed use of a particular cell, restraint, punishment, or specialty space.
- Cannot tolerate loud environments, shared spaces, interrupted sleep, or hard surfaces.
- Are unwilling to follow guard direction while in character.
- Are uncomfortable disclosing necessary medical, dietary, or safety information.
- Want to watch from the sidelines instead of actively supporting the shared simulation.
- Are unwilling to follow the Participant Rules & Conduct Code throughout the event.
Preparing for the weekend
Pack less. Disclose more.
Detailed packing, uniform, labeling, arrival, and medical instructions are sent before the event. Those event-specific instructions control over this general overview.
Inmates
- Travel clothes for arrival and departure
- Approved toiletries and personal necessities
- Self-administered medication and required medical devices
- Minimal approved items in an “off-limits” bag
- Issued uniform and bedding are provided
Guards
- Required guard uniform described in onboarding instructions
- Approved footwear and duty gear
- No weapons
- Personally owned restraints only when approved and clearly marked
- Barracks bedding or lodging details provided before the event
Everyone
- Valid government-issued photo identification
- Complete and accurate medical, allergy, and dietary disclosures
- Travel plans that accommodate your assigned arrival time
- Readiness to follow the Participant Rules & Conduct Code and staff direction
- Realistic expectations and flexibility
Admission process
A ticket starts the process.
Because this is a close-contact, multi-day role-play involving confinement, personal information, and participant discretion, approval is required. Purchasing or reserving admission does not by itself guarantee entry.
Register
Select an available event and role through the official event listing.
Complete Vetting
Submit required information, review the Conduct Code, and complete screening by the stated deadline.
Receive Approval
Approved participants receive onboarding, group access, and preparation instructions.
Report as Directed
Use the assigned arrival time and travel instructions issued for your event.
Common questions
Before you surrender
These answers summarize the experience. The event listing, registration documents, participant conduct code, waiver, and direct instructions control if anything differs.
Is this an actual incarceration?
No. This is a voluntary role-play program conducted inside a real former jail. You are not under arrest, serving a sentence, or giving up your legal rights. The event creates temporary in-character authority and restrictions within the Participant Rules & Conduct Code.
Will inmates actually be locked in a cell?
Yes, locked housing may be used during the full immersion event. The doors and security systems are real, but staff retain operational control. Each participant receives safety and contact procedures before confinement begins.
Do I have to accept restraints as an inmate?
Inmate participants must be willing to accept the baseline level of controlled, non-punitive restraint described in the Participant Rules & Conduct Code, such as handcuffs. More specialized equipment or scenarios are not guaranteed and remain subject to safety, consent, staff approval, and event design.
Can I leave early?
Yes. Participation is voluntary, and you may withdraw under the opt-out procedures described in the Conduct Code. Staff will normally try to transition you out discreetly so other participants’ immersion is not unnecessarily disrupted. Leaving early does not automatically create a refund or credit.
Can I use my phone?
Phones are normally collected at intake or stored with your belongings. Limited scheduled checks may be available—often once in the morning and once in the evening— for participants who need to contact work or family.
What happens to my medication or medical equipment?
Necessary self-administered medication, glasses, CPAP equipment, and similar required items may be kept in an approved off-limits bag. Disclose relevant conditions and needs during registration so staff can determine whether accommodations or activity limits are necessary.
What food is provided?
Meals are prepared on site and are included as described in the event listing. Menus vary. Participants must disclose allergies and dietary requirements during registration; available accommodations are confirmed through the event process.
Where can an arrest scenario begin?
Arrest scenarios begin only at the designated AmericInn or inside the F22 vestibule. Facility 22 does not conduct arrest scenarios from other hotels, private residences, vehicles, public locations, or roadside stops. Your assigned location and reporting instructions will be provided before the event. No particular arrest scene or method is guaranteed.
Will photographs or video be taken?
Security cameras operate in designated areas, and event photography may occur under published media rules. The Participant Rules & Conduct Code prohibits filming others without permission, sharing restricted media, and misrepresenting Facility 22 or participants online.
How do I travel to Facility 22?
Facility 22 is in Princeton, Illinois. Many participants fly into Chicago O’Hare and coordinate rental vehicles or shared transportation. Princeton also has an Amtrak station. Approved participants receive the exact facility address and event-specific arrival instructions.
Participants are responsible for arranging their own transportation to the assigned arrival location and after the event. Facility 22 does not provide or guarantee return transportation after release.
Who is responsible for my vehicle and belongings?
You are responsible for your vehicle and for anything left inside it. Facility 22 is not responsible for theft, loss, damage, towing, weather exposure, or belongings left in a vehicle before, during, or after the event. Do not leave valuables or essential medication in your vehicle.
Ready to enter Facility 22?
Read the rules before choosing your role.
Review the current event listing, FAQ, Participant Rules & Conduct Code, pricing, availability, and registration requirements before purchasing admission.
Event schedules, prices, capacity, roles, activities, policies, and procedures may change. The current registration page and documents issued for your specific event are controlling. Participants remain responsible for their vehicles, property, and post-event transportation.