Bounty ( Skyrim ) Bounty is a game mechanic in . Bounty tracks the number and severity of crimes committed and converts it to a amount . Compared with previous releases . Separated by hold . Unlike , where bounty was tracked and upheld across the cities of Cyrodiil , bounty in " Skyrim " is kept separate by Hold . For instance , when a crime is committed in Falkreath Hold , guards in Winterhold will not arrest criminals based on their Falkreath Bounty . Evading bounty . Traditionally , three options for resolving a bounty exist across games : paying the bounty off in gold , resisting arrest , or sitting in prison . " Skyrim " introduces a fourth option : evading bounty by flaunting a . Jarl s of Skyrim can grant the title of Thane to citizens , which allows the individual ' s menial crimes to be overlooked . Crimes such as murder or assault may not be overlooked , however it should be noted that evasion of a bounty via Thanehood can only be used once per hold . However , there is also another option for the Dragonborn if they are part of the Thieves Guild , in which you pay more septims ( bribing the guard ) but do not lose stolen goods in your inventory . Stolen items . As with other releases , all stolen items are removed when bounties are resolved . Dealing with a bounty . When any bounty is accumulated , guards in Holds or cities stop the offender , forcing them to halt and engage in dialogue . Four options exist for resolving the bounty ( five for Thieves Guild members ) . Overview . These are the following bounties that can be acquired . It may be higher or lower , depending on the crime and the severity of said crime . Generally speaking , the said bounty not be acquired if no one witnesses the Dragonborn committing it . However , if a bounty is acquired , killing all witnesses before they can report it will effectively remove the bounty . The crime bounty ratio is as follows : The more severe the crime , the higher the bounty . The higher the bounty , the longer the sentence . The longer the sentence , the more skills that will be affected . Paying the fine . If is paid , the guards leave and is automatically subtracted from the inventory . If arrest is resisted , all guards in the immediate area , including some bystanders and citizens , draw weapons and attempt to slay the criminal — only upon the criminal ' s escape or death do they relent . During combat , the criminal can choose to make the guard " yield " their attacks by initiating dialogue . This brings the criminal back to choice menu , in which they can choose to pay off the bounty or serve jail time . If the criminal ' s bounty is high enough , Jarls employ Bounty Collector s to chase down criminals and attack them . They can appear in any hold or location , randomly . Serving jail time . Criminals can choose to spend time in jail for accumulated bounty . When selecting this option , the criminal is stripped of all items , weapons , and armor and placed in a cell . To wait the duration of the sentence , sleep in the bed . Upon release , all items are returned . If the criminal chooses to escape , bounty is removed , but their items must be manually obtained from an evidence locker somewhere in the prison . If caught , they will receive a new bounty . PETTY CRIMES If the Dragonborn steals a low value object then some of the lower class may send Hired Thugs after them . For lower level characters they may be tough opponents . Special circumstances . Thane . Upon becoming Thane of a Hold , small bounties can be overlooked simply by stating one ' s title as Thane . Bounties exceeding 1 , 000 cannot be forgiven using this method . This can only be done once per hold though . Markarth . In Markarth , citizens are sent to Cidhna Mine to pay off bounties . The sentence is served by mining ore or escaping . Being imprisoned in the mine is part of the quest " No One Escapes Cidhna Mine . " Thieves Guild . After completing Special jobs for the Thieves Guild in Riften , criminals gain the option of bribing guards to allow them to keep stolen items . Bribery . The " Bribery " perk in the Speech skill tree allows criminals to persuade guards out of arresting or fining them . This method does not remove bounty , simply the guard who attempted to collect on the bounty ignores it . Other guards may still respond to the bounty . Pacify . In the Illusion school of Magicka , a spell called Pacify calms hostile targets . Coupled with the " Kindred Mage " perk from the same skill tree , the spell has the potential of calming guards , when a criminal acquires a bounty , causing them to forget the bounty temporarily and walk away . This option allows criminals to run or Fast Travel to a safer location . Killing witnesses . If in a remote or enclosed location , murdering witnesses to a theft , murder , or another crime annuls the bounty one acquires automatically for committing the crime . Alternatively , if no one witnesses the crime and the criminal is properly stealthed while committing it , a bounty may not even be acquired . Taking a Hold . During the Civil War , whenever a hold is taken by the Imperial Legion or Stormcloaks , a criminal ' s bounty is reset . Stolen items . Storing stolen items in chests and containers or simply dropping may remove the bounty altogether . This is especially useful when items are accidentally picked up in shops or guild headquarters . The owner of the item that witnesses the theft may simply take the item you picked up . In this case , you might not receive bounty .