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Configuration & Preferences

Behind Bars uses MelonPreferences. You can edit the generated MelonPreferences.cfg file after the mod runs once, then restart the game.

Where the config lives

  • MelonPreferences.cfg in your Schedule I folder.

Key settings

Quality-of-life and updates

SettingWhat it does
BailoutKeyKey binding used to pay bail and get released early from jail.
EnableUpdateCheckingChecks for mod updates when the main menu loads.
LastUpdateCheckTimestamp of the last update check (auto-managed).
CachedLatestVersionCached version string from the last check (auto-managed).
EnableDebugLoggingEnables detailed logs for troubleshooting; expect a lot of output.

Sentencing (base minutes)

Each Sentence_* value is the base time in minutes before multipliers apply.

CrimeSettingDefault (minutes)
TrespassingSentence_Trespassing15
VandalismSentence_Vandalism30
Public intoxicationSentence_PublicIntoxication30
Disturbing the peaceSentence_DisturbingPeace15
SpeedingSentence_Speeding3
Reckless drivingSentence_RecklessDriving45
Brandishing weaponSentence_BrandishingWeapon30
Discharge firearmSentence_DischargeFirearm45
Drug possession (low)Sentence_DrugPossessionLow30
Illegal weapon possessionSentence_IllegalWeaponPossession30
TheftSentence_Theft120
Vehicle theftSentence_VehicleTheft240
AssaultSentence_Assault180
Assault on civilianSentence_AssaultOnCivilian360
Vehicular assaultSentence_VehicularAssault360
Drug possession (moderate)Sentence_DrugPossessionModerate180
Evading arrestSentence_EvadingArrest360
Failure to complySentence_FailureToComply180
Hit and runSentence_HitAndRun480
Violating curfewSentence_ViolatingCurfew120
Deadly assaultSentence_DeadlyAssault1440
Assault on officerSentence_AssaultOnOfficer2880
BurglarySentence_Burglary2160
Drug possession (high)Sentence_DrugPossessionHigh1440
Drug traffickingSentence_DrugTrafficking3600
Attempting to sellSentence_AttemptingToSell2160
Witness intimidationSentence_WitnessIntimidation2880
ManslaughterSentence_Manslaughter4320
Murder (civilian)Sentence_MurderCivilian5760
Murder (employee)Sentence_MurderEmployee6480
Murder (police)Sentence_MurderPolice7200

Multipliers

These scale the base minutes above.

SettingWhat it doesDefault
Global_SentenceMultiplierScales all sentences (1.0 = normal, 2.0 = double).1.0
Multiplier_Severity1_0Severity 1.0 multiplier (no change).1.0
Multiplier_Severity1_5Severity 1.5 multiplier (+50%).1.5
Multiplier_Severity2_0Severity 2.0 multiplier (+100%).2.0
Multiplier_Severity2_5Severity 2.5 multiplier (+150%).2.5
Multiplier_Severity3_0Severity 3.0 multiplier (+200%).3.0
Multiplier_Severity4_0Severity 4.0 multiplier (+300%).4.0
Multiplier_RepeatOffender2Repeat offender multiplier for the 2nd offense (+25%).1.25
Multiplier_RepeatOffender3Repeat offender multiplier for the 3rd offense (+50%).1.5
Multiplier_RepeatOffender4PlusRepeat offender multiplier for 4+ offenses (+100%).2.0
Multiplier_UnwitnessedUnwitnessed crime multiplier (-20%).0.8
Multiplier_WitnessBonusBonus per additional witness (+10% each, max +30%).0.1
Enable_SeverityMultipliersToggle severity multipliers.true
Enable_RepeatOffenderPenaltiesToggle repeat offender multipliers.true
Enable_WitnessMultipliersToggle witness-based multipliers.true

Example configuration

[Behind_Bars]
# The key binding used to pay bail and get released early from jail
BailoutKey = "B"
# Unix timestamp of last update check
LastUpdateCheck = 1768611766
# Cached version from last check
CachedLatestVersion = "alpha-1.1.0"
# Check for mod updates on menu load
EnableUpdateChecking = true
# Show detailed debug logs. Enable this if you're experiencing issues and need to report bugs. Warning: This will produce a lot of log output.
EnableDebugLogging = false
Sentence_Trespassing = 15.0
Sentence_Vandalism = 30.0
Sentence_PublicIntoxication = 30.0
Sentence_DisturbingPeace = 15.0
Sentence_Speeding = 3.0
Sentence_RecklessDriving = 45.0
Sentence_BrandishingWeapon = 30.0
Sentence_DischargeFirearm = 45.0
Sentence_DrugPossessionLow = 30.0
Sentence_IllegalWeaponPossession = 30.0
Sentence_Theft = 120.0
Sentence_VehicleTheft = 240.0
Sentence_Assault = 180.0
Sentence_AssaultOnCivilian = 360.0
Sentence_VehicularAssault = 360.0
Sentence_DrugPossessionModerate = 180.0
Sentence_EvadingArrest = 360.0
Sentence_FailureToComply = 180.0
Sentence_HitAndRun = 480.0
Sentence_ViolatingCurfew = 120.0
Sentence_DeadlyAssault = 1440.0
Sentence_AssaultOnOfficer = 2880.0
Sentence_Burglary = 2160.0
Sentence_DrugPossessionHigh = 1440.0
Sentence_DrugTrafficking = 3600.0
Sentence_AttemptingToSell = 2160.0
Sentence_WitnessIntimidation = 2880.0
Sentence_Manslaughter = 4320.0
Sentence_MurderCivilian = 5760.0
Sentence_MurderEmployee = 6480.0
Sentence_MurderPolice = 7200.0
Multiplier_Severity1_0 = 1.0
Multiplier_Severity1_5 = 1.5
Multiplier_Severity2_0 = 2.0
Multiplier_Severity2_5 = 2.5
Multiplier_Severity3_0 = 3.0
Multiplier_Severity4_0 = 4.0
Multiplier_RepeatOffender2 = 1.25
Multiplier_RepeatOffender3 = 1.5
Multiplier_RepeatOffender4Plus = 2.0
Multiplier_Unwitnessed = 0.800000011920929
Multiplier_WitnessBonus = 0.100000001490116
Global_SentenceMultiplier = 1.0
Enable_RepeatOffenderPenalties = true
Enable_WitnessMultipliers = true
Enable_SeverityMultipliers = true

Tips

  • If you are not sure what a setting does, leave it at the default value.
  • New options may appear after updates, so review your config after installing a new release.