Valley Prison features five distinct vent locations across the facility. Four of these vents connect directly to the underground Maximum Security Tunnel System, while one isolated vent sits in the classification area. Inmates can break open these vents in five seconds using a crafted Screwdriver to bypass locked blast doors, while Maintenance Technicians use a Toolbox to weld them shut.
Quick Summary of All Vent Locations
The table below outlines every vent in Valley Prison, its specific area, where it leads, and notable features based on official game updates and the Valley Prison RolePlay Wiki.
| Vent Name | Location in Prison | Connected To | Key Features / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Booking Room Vent | Inside the classification/booking cell | Entrance hallway near the Lobby | Standalone; does not connect to the underground tunnel system. |
| Maximum Security Vent | Hallway to the Max Security Cell Block, near Solitary | Maximum Security Tunnel System | Primary escape route for high-risk prisoners; moved from MS-01 in V2.5.7. |
| Cafeteria Vent (Barn Vent) | Outside the Cafeteria Storage Room, reached via ladder | Maximum Security Tunnel System | Spawns an Employee Keycard on the tunnel floor near the grate. |
| Outside Vent (Court / Parking Vent) | Exterior perimeter near the State Police building | Maximum Security Tunnel System | Direct outdoor exit/entry point into the tunnel network. |
| Armory Vent | Inside the RIOT/CERT Lockers room | Maximum Security Tunnel System | The only way inside the locked armory; allows escapees to loot weapons. |
Detailed Breakdown of Valley Prison Vent Locations
1. Booking Room Vent
The Booking Room Vent is found directly inside the holding cell where newly joined prisoners wait for crime classification through the Autobook system.
Unlike the other four vents, this vent does not grant access to the underground tunnel system. Breaking it drops you into the administrative corridor leading toward the front entrance lobby. Because this vent sits directly next to officer spawn paths and intake processing, escaping through here requires timing your move when guards are absent from the booking desk.
2. Maximum Security Vent
Located in the Maximum Security corridor just outside the Solitary Confinement cells, the Maximum Security Vent is the main subterranean breakout point for high-risk inmates. In earlier builds of the game, this vent was situated inside cell MS-01, but updates relocated it to the main hallway wall.
Popping this grate allows maximum security prisoners to bypass heavy security checkpoints without needing high-tier clearance cards. Once inside the grate, you drop into the western junction of the tunnel system.
3. Cafeteria Vent (Barn Vent)
The Cafeteria Vent—frequently called the Barn Vent by community players—is located along the exterior perimeter wall behind the Minimum/Medium Security cafeteria and kitchen storage area.
To reach it from the cafeteria:
- Move past the kitchen prep counters into the back storage room.
- Step out through the back door toward the exterior walled yard.
- Locate the wall-mounted ladder leading up to the raised ventilation housing.
An Employee Keycard regularly spawns on the tunnel floor just inside this vent opening, making it an essential target for inmates looking to secure door access after dropping down.
4. Outside Vent (Court / Parking Lot Vent)
Community callouts refer to this grate interchangeably as the Outside Vent, Court Vent, or Parking Lot Vent. It sits at ground level in the exterior perimeter yard near the State Police building and visitation gate.
Because this vent opens directly onto the outer grounds, it serves two main purposes:
- Escape Route: Inmates traveling north through the underground tunnels can break this grate from beneath to surface beyond interior perimeter checkpoints.
- Infiltration Route: Armed escapees raiding the prison frequently enter through this vent to access the armory or bust out friends in Maximum Security without walking past the front towers.
5. Armory Vent
The Armory Vent leads directly into the RIOT and CERT locker room. Correctional officers cannot enter this specific storage room on foot from the main building corridors; game mechanics restrict direct room entry to the ventilation shaft.
Escapees who enter the tunnel system can climb through this vent to raid the Armory Locker inside, which provides additional firearms and tactical gear. When patrolling the tunnels, Maintenance staff and guards treat this corner as a high-risk ambush point because armed inmates often wait inside the opening.
The Maximum Security Tunnel System
The Maximum Security Tunnel System acts as the underground highway of Valley Prison. It ties four of the vents together:
- Maximum Security Cell Block
- Cafeteria Storage
- Outside Perimeter Yard
- RIOT/CERT Armory
The tunnels also sit adjacent to the facility's Power Generator Room in the Maximum Security basement. When prisoners disable the main generator, prison lighting shuts off, and electronic security measures fail. Maintenance Technicians and officers must navigate the dark corridors to hold the interaction prompt on the generator to restore power.
Both the Maximum Security Vent and the Cafeteria Vent feature interior latches that allow players inside the tunnels to close the grates without needing a toolbox, preventing guards from immediately following behind.
Vent Mechanics: Breaking vs. Repairing
Interacting with vents depends entirely on your chosen team and your inventory tools.
Breaking Vents (Inmates & Escapees)
- Required Tool: Screwdriver.
- Crafting/Locating: Screwdrivers can be crafted in cell blocks using gathered metal pieces found across cafeteria tables, trash bins, and work areas.
- Action Time: 5 seconds.
- Durability Risk: Breaking a vent has a small chance to consume or snap your crafted screwdriver. Once open, the vent remains unsealed until a technician visits the spot.
Repairing Vents (Maintenance Team)
- Required Tool: Toolbox.
- Eligible Class: Department of Corrections Maintenance Technician.
- Action Time: 5 seconds.
- Rewards: 30 XP and 3 Job Points per repaired vent (earlier versions granted 20 XP).
- Technique: Stand close to the vent frame while holding the toolbox. When sealing the Outside Vent, lean slightly forward along the perimeter edge to avoid getting wedged into the exterior geometry when the grate resets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Correctional Officers open or close vents?
Standard Correctional Officers cannot repair broken vents. Only players on the Maintenance Technician team carrying a Toolbox can seal damaged vents from the outside. However, any player inside the tunnel network can manually pull shut the interior grates on the Max Security and Cafeteria vents.
Where is the keycard located inside the vents?
An Employee Keycard spawns on the tunnel floor directly adjacent to the Cafeteria Vent shaft. Inmates dropping down from the cafeteria storage ladder can pick it up to unlock administrative doors.
Why doesn't the Booking Vent connect to the tunnels?
The Booking Room Vent is designed as an isolated shortcut for low-level processing. It opens into the main lobby corridor rather than the subterranean Maximum Security tunnels, preventing brand-new inmates from reaching the armory instantly upon spawning.
