> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.qie.digital/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.qie.digital/slashing-and-jailing-in-qie-v3/what-is-jailing.md).

# 🪤 What is Jailing?

### 🚫 What Is Jailing?

**Jailing** is a temporary suspension that removes a validator from the active validator set. When a validator is jailed:

* They **stop producing blocks**
* They **do not receive any rewards**
* Delegators **stop earning staking rewards** from that validator

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#### Why Does Jailing Happen?

Validators can be jailed due to:

* ⏳ **Prolonged downtime** — being offline for too long
* ⚠️ **Slashing offenses** — committing serious protocol violations
* ⚙️ **Software misconfiguration** — such as using the wrong chain ID or incorrect genesis file

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#### What Happens After Jailing?

* The validator remains jailed until they **fix the issue and submit an unjail transaction**
* Once unjailed, the validator can **resume participation** and **earn rewards again**

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#### Summary

Jailing protects the network by:

* Temporarily removing validators who are misbehaving or offline
* Ensuring only active, well-behaved validators secure the blockchain
* Encouraging validators to maintain proper configuration and uptime