Castle Waterdeep
Dungeons and Cells:
The primary dungeons are located within Castle Waterdeep proper, a massive fortress that serves as the seat of government for the city. Within the coutyard stands the prison tower. This tower serves as the guard tower and administrative offices of the legal system and prison. Beneath the tower is the dungeons holding long term prisoners.
These dungeons are heavily fortified and guarded by the City Watch, making escape virtually impossible. The top of the tower is a nest and hub for the griffin guard who patrol the castle. Magical wards and barriers are often used to prevent prisoners from using magic to escape. These wards exist externally and internally. If one should escape their cell it'd be difficult to avoid further wards and barriers. Antimagic fields are present for specific cells holding maximum security mages. How these antimagic fields are maintains is unknown, but is related to the Blackstaff office.
The dungeons are extensive, capable of holding a large number of prisoners ranging from petty thieves to dangerous criminals and political prisoners. The total capacity of the prisons are unknown. Few guards are given such sensitive information. However, the current population is painstakenly monitored by the guards.
Conditions in the dungeons can range from harsh to leasurely depending on political connections, reputation with the guards, or capital. Most inmates have basic ammenities such as a bed, public toilets & showers, table & chairs in the cell, and access to a library. Most cells are 225sqft and houses 6 inmates per cell. High-profile prisoners might receive different treatment depending on their connections or the severity of their crimes, however this is not officially recognized.
Types of Prisoners:
Awaiting Trial:
On the first floor of the dungeon are prisoners still awaiting trial. Depending on risk, they are afforded looser restrictions.
Common Criminals:
Thieves, pickpockets, and other minor offenders make up the bulk of the prison population. These are held in the middle floors, for long term incarceration.
Serious Offenders:
Murderers, traitors, and those who pose a significant threat to the city's safety. These individuals are often kept in maximum-security cells. Many of these criminals are eventually transferred depending on severity of their crimes and their influence on the criminal underworld. Thus they are kept in the upper floors. Murderers, gang members, bandits, pirates, and cultists of the dark arts are often transferred to Revel's End in the Icewind Dale. Traitors and major criminal leaders are kept in the lower middle floors. Where they are integrated and used as leverage.
Political Prisoners:
Occasionally, political dissidents or those who have fallen out of favor with powerful factions might find themselves in the dungeons. Many of these prisoners are kept in the first or second floors of the dungeon. The amenities here are more luxurious and readily available.
Magical Prisoners:
Depending on the crime, mage prisoners are kept with the general population. Magical ability determines precautions taken, most will have wards and barriers meant to incentivize compliance. Should a prisoner be deemed too dangerous, modifications will be made to their cells to install anti-magic fields. Should these prisoners require a transfer they will be "sedated", legs and arms bound, fingers bound together, gagged, ear plugged, and hooded. They will then be carried to whichever destination is deemed fit.
Visitation:
Depending on the sentence and the danger of the criminal, visitation may be restricted or expressly allowed. One cannot learn which one until there is an attempt to visit the prison. One can request a visit at their local guard station.
Note: The Office of the Masked Noble may give express permission for visitation of any inmate.
Legal System
Waterdeep has a highly complex legal system that involves the influence of multiple factions in the city. The Court System reserves the right to incarcerate anyone who is under suspicion and can hold them indefinitely until trial. Depending on connections and political influence, the trial can be expedited or delayed. Typically a trial will last an hour or two, high profile cases will have multiple days, and major cases can last months.
Trials have a defense and prosecution. They will present their arguments to a tribunal of judges who then deliberate on a verdict and sentence the defendant. These judges remained masked and hooded, ensuring the anonymity of the judges. However, outside influence from powerful factions still impact them.
Other Prisons:
Multiple prisons exist throughout the city particularly in the Dock Ward, Field Ward, and the Undercliff. These short-term jails are for those on trial, awaiting sentencing, being held overnight, or awaiting transfer to either Castle Waterdeep or Revel's End. These jails don't hold individuals longer than a few months at most. Individuals held in these jails for more than few days are low-risk, and often are held for minor infractions serving sentences under 6 months. On the other hand, high-risk individuals are brought here for booking and then held until transfer to Castle Waterdeep can be arranged.
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