How do heat and jail work?

Police heat runs from zero to 100. A successful crime gives 3 plus the job's energy cost — a capo job of 12 energy is +15 on success and +22 on a fail. As long as you don't build heat, it drops by one every 45 seconds.

From 70 on there is a bust chance: 18% at 70, rising to 45% at 100. That bust chance looks at the heat you already had and rolls before the success roll. That arrest takes 40 energy and leaves the card's energy alone. You're locked up for a while; the jail page shows exactly how long. Heat drops by 35. That arrest carries no fine.

If a job fails at or above 70 heat, the jail chance is 30% up to 70% at 100. The fail raises your heat first; then the dice roll. Jail from that fail uses a different clock from a bust — how long, the jail page shows. The arrest takes another 40 energy on top of the card (22 + 40 on a job of 22). The fine from Crimes applies to every fail.

In jail, street actions are frozen: crimes, attacks, travel, chopping, Cars, Marketplace, casino and withdrawing cash. Cars and Marketplace stay closed. Still open: Forum, Handbook, Dossier, Messages and the jail page with minigames (Higher/Lower, Catch the soap) — scores do not shorten your sentence. Every casino action is closed, including the limits of your own table. A bribe costs $750 plus $25 per second still left, at least $1,000 and at most $20,000. Your family's Jail bribes upgrade makes this cheaper. In the hospital you always pay full price. After that, heat drops by 20.

The safehouse opens from 25 heat and takes 60 heat off. The price is $110 plus $6 per point of heat, between $180 and $2,600. A lookout (from rank Soldier) puts new heat at 40% for 45 minutes.