![Ex-prisoners reveal the mystery behind a 'secret' door located between every two cells of a prison](https://images.ladbible.com/resize?type=webp&quality=70&width=3840&fit=contain&gravity=auto&url=https://images.ladbiblegroup.com/v3/assets/bltcd74acc1d0a99f3a/bltf7cc5a422b46faa7/6693efa1fd135f219b233e8f/prison-cells-myster-secret-door.png)
Former prisoners have revealed exactly what happens behind the mystery doors which can often be found between cells.
Spending your days locked away in a prison cell isn't something that's supposed to be entertaining or enjoyable, which means that inmates have to get creative in order to pass the time.
According to a post on Reddit, this would also include coming up with creative ideas about what could be hidden away in various off-limits areas.
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One particular thing which has captured imaginations online are the smaller doors which are located after every couple of cells, with one person making a thread on a prison subreddit to ask about them.
The responses from former inmates ranged from helpful to bizarre - with many revealing the made up stories they would tell newer prisoners.
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"Make-out closet," one person joked, while another said it was a 'secret escape route'.
Other users also revealed the wild stories they'd make up, with the swimming pool theory being a popular one at various prisons.
"Used to tell the new guys it was stairs up to the rec/pool room," a third person claimed, adding: "Then you tell them they have to get on the list with the CO [corrections officer] to be able to go up there. They'd get a CO and some of the funniest shit is watching them be like 'can I get on the list for the pool' and watching the reaction."
![The area leads to a space where water/electric can be managed. (Getty Stock Images)](https://images.ladbible.com/resize?type=webp&quality=70&width=3840&fit=contain&gravity=auto&url=https://images.ladbiblegroup.com/v3/assets/bltcd74acc1d0a99f3a/blt6769f84eda4af8ab/6693efd66d63a8a81cc6c49d/GettyImages-658121369.jpg)
Well, you have pass the time somehow.
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Unfortunately the truth is far less interesting, with the doors actually leading to an area where the plumbing and maintenance of cells can be taken care of.
"Called a pipe chase. Gives maintenance access to plumbing and electrical in the two adjacent cells," one person explained.
"Pipe chases at my facility. If a house has a water issue or the inmate is purposely flooding their house, we can shut the water off," a second added.
Once you learn that the doors lead to maintenance rooms it's pretty hard to see it any other way. However, the idea of a gullible new prisoner falling for the notion that good behaviour means a trip to the mysterious, member's club-style pool is infinitely funnier.
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Some ex-inmates would even claim to take things further by putting newbies through the bizarre jail equivalent of hazing.
![Inmates would get creative to pass the time. (Getty Stock Images)](https://images.ladbible.com/resize?type=webp&quality=70&width=3840&fit=contain&gravity=auto&url=https://images.ladbiblegroup.com/v3/assets/bltcd74acc1d0a99f3a/blt664f95ccca60c2cc/6693f7bab4cfc45576347dce/GettyImages-sb10062143p-001.jpg)
"Lol I remember the thing where I was at was that 'you needed to get your mattress stamped' you gotta carry you mattress up to the CO podium and he’ll stamp it for you. Funniest s**t ever," one user recalled, to which another person replied: "I remember saying that to several newbies. Gave us something to do in county lockup."