Criminals to be fined for damage caused in jail From now on, if you wilfully break it you will pay for it. Last year there were 6,881 proven cases of wilful damage in prisons. It can cost £1,000 to replace cell sanitaryware and about £830 for a new cell door. Under the policy new compensation would be payable in every case, including fires set in cells. Offenders will pay the full value of damage up to a maximum of £2,000. Debts will last for two years or the end of a offender's sentence.