Willoughby Locking Systems, a division of Willoughby Industries Inc., was founded in response to the demands from jails, prisons, detention equipment contractors, and security professionals who wanted to do business with a company that not only made exceptional quality products but also offered the customer service and post-purchase support to ensure success. Calling on its decades of experience in the corrections industry with our stainless steel plumbing fixtures, Willoughby revised and manufactured proven designs with stainless steel, providing increased durability and corrosion resistance over traditional mild steel. Willoughby Locking Systems offers a wide range of prison door locks designed to enhance security and durability in correctional facilities. From mechanical prison locks to innovative electromechanical options, our solutions are built with stainless steel to withstand the toughest environments.
Willoughby Locking Systems employees have over 75 years of experience in the detention lock industry. We can advise on various topics throughout the correctional industry including lock handing, keying, maintenance, renovation and more! In fact, this blog was written to help decide if Willoughby Locks are right for your jail, whether it is a new build or a renovation.
Types of Prison Door Locks
Before we dive too deeply into the jail lock world, there are two main product categories to understand: mechanical and electromechanical and the various subcategories including slamshut, deadlock, sliding door and deadlatch prison locks.
Mechanical Prison Door Locks
Due to their simplicity, durability, and difficulty of tampering, mechanical locks remain a favorite throughout jails worldwide. The designs used in mechanical locks go back decades, but the concepts used within them have been used for several thousand years, dating back to the ancient Egyptians. At its core, each mechanical lock features a lever and tumbler system, regardless of how many other complex options are within it. As prisons evolved, so did the need for prison door locks; now, mechanical locks come in a variety of different types, including deadbolt, slam shut, and deadlatch variants, which we will explore in more depth later. Modern mechanical locks include measures to stop tampering, including anti-pick notches and keyway depths. Mechanical prison locks remain a cornerstone of security in correctional facilities with Willoughby offering the most common options like deadbolt, slam shut and deadlatch locks.
Electromechanical Prison Door Locks
Electromechanical locks operate very similarly to mechanical locks in that they can be operated mechanically and through the electric actuation of a motor or solenoid to remotely cycle the lock’s mechanisms. Depending on a jail’s preferred methods, including buttons, switches, badge readers, keypads, and more, this can be triggered through various methods. The increase in technology also allows for remote monitoring of a door’s security status, such as locked or unlocked, tracking when and sometimes even who operated a door. Electromechanical locks can be programmed to use various security protocols such as electric unlock key locking, fail-safe, or fail-secure. Willoughby’s electromechanical locks combine traditional security with modern technology to meet the evolving needs of high-security detention environments.
Slamshut Prison Locks
A slam shut lock is a lock that, like its name, can be slammed shut. Slam shut locks typically feature a wedge-shaped bolt that allows the angle of the wedge to guide the lock into the bolt receiver, where it can be fully extended and secured. Springs allow the bolt to retract with the pressure from the bolt retriever, launching it forward into a secured state when the pressure is no longer applied. A key or electric actuation can unlock the door initially.
Deadbolt Prison Locks
Not dissimilar from deadbolt locks featured on residential buildings, deadbolts are solid, typically squared-off pieces of metal that extend or contract with the actuation of the lock, either via mechanic or electric cycling. A deadbolt lock must be actuated with a key or lever and will not retract or reextend automatically like a slam shut lock.
Deadlatch Prison Locks
Deadlatching is a feature found on both mechanical and electromechanical locks that allows for additional security. When paired with a slam shut lock, a deadlatch prevents the lock from being actuated when shut without using a key by physically blocking the bolt from being retracted. This adds extra security and tamper resistance. Check out the WLS-1770 for an example!
(Sneak Peek: Willoughby Locking Systems is developing a first of its kind deadlatching food pass lock, the WLS-1717D!
Sliding Prison Door Locks
Up until now, everything we have discussed has been relevant to swinging door-type locks. However, if you are attempting to secure a sliding door, you will need a sliding door lock, which functions by actuating a hook to latch onto the door to secure it. Sliding door locks are also available in slam shut, “regular” key unlock, or relock variants. Check out Willoughby’s WLS-1730 for an example.
Evaluating Your Facility’s Security Needs
When selecting prison door locks, it’s essential to consider the durability, keying methods and compatibility with your facility’s current systems (if applicable) and needs. Willoughby Locking Systems provides reliable options for both mechanical and electromechanical detention locks.
The keying method is one of the most critical decisions in a jail or prison. You should determine how many keys you need and what they should open. Keys come in two types: paracentric or mogul. Paracentric keys are typically the default method for unlocking mechanical prison locks using the key to push up the tumblers. Mogul keys are used on mogul cylinders, like Willoughby’s WLS-TDM, which operates similarly to a residential lock, which utilizes pins and springs. The key pushes up the pins, allowing the key to turn and actuate the lock. Key management is a crucial part of a facility’s security.
Due to their ability to be accessed remotely and via various methods, Electromechanical locks, such as the WLS-1520 and WLS-1300, are commonly installed on cell doors, holding cell doors, corridors, and exterior doors.
On cell and holding doors, there are food pass and shackle doors to interact with inmates, which typically use smaller slam shut or deadbolt locks such as the WLS-1710 or the WLS-1717.
Perimeter doors sometimes use larger deadbolt locks, such as the WLS-1780.
Detention gate locks, such as the WLS-1520G, are necessary to secure pedestrian entry/ exit points.
Due to the demanding environment in which they operate, detention locks are exposed to wear and tear and can sometimes need replacing. That is why Willoughby Locking Systems products have been designed to be a drop-in replacement for R.R. Brink equivalent products, including R.R. Brink Keyway systems.
*The RR BRINK™ and RR BRINK LOCKING SYSTEMS™ marks are owned by Southern Folger Detention Equipment Company, LLC, with which Willoughby Locking Systems and Willoughby Industries, Inc., have no affiliation or association.
Benefits of Choosing a Willoughby Lock
Willoughby Locking Systems has been trusted to provide products to over 50 facilities across 22 states and internationally.
Willoughby Locking Systems improves on proven designs by utilizing stainless steel to increase durability and longevity. This is due to the increased tensile strength and corrosion resistance of stainless steel over the industry’s commonly used mild steel. Willoughby offers a comprehensive range of products to fit the most common and even some of the more niche use cases.
With decades of expertise, Willoughby Locking Systems is able to offer customer service and post-purchase support, such as repairs and parts, to ensure our products continue to provide security and peace of mind long after the initial purchase.
With such a long history and millions of lock designs, and variations, how can you determine which lock to trust? The question is especially critical in situations like detention locks, where a locked door can be a matter of life and death. This was the question at hand when the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) and Underwriters Laboratories (UL) began developing security product standards, including detention locks.
Willoughby Locking Systems products have been tested to industry standards, including ASTMF1450, ASTMF1577, and UL437. We are the only company in the detention lock industry to offer products certified to a UL10C 3-Hour Fire rating, greater than the industry standard UL10B.
You can learn more about detention lock certifications on Intertek’s page on UL 1034, LockWiki’s Page on UL 437, or ASTM’s Page on F1450 or F1577
Choosing the right locks for your facility isn’t just about security—it’s about ensuring efficiency and peace of mind. With over 75 years of combined experience in the detention lock industry, Willoughby Locking Systems offers products built to last, expertly engineered, and backed by exceptional customer support. Whether you need reliable mechanical locks, cutting-edge electromechanical solutions, or specialized options like slamshut or sliding door locks, we have the expertise and product range to meet your needs.
What sets Willoughby apart is our use of stainless steel, which offers unmatched durability and corrosion resistance compared to traditional mild steel. Our locks are designed for drop-in compatibility with existing systems and rigorously tested to exceed industry fire resistance and security standards, ensuring they can handle even the most demanding correctional environments.
Whether planning a new facility or renovating an existing one, Willoughby Locking Systems is here to deliver exceptional quality, trusted expertise, and dependable post-purchase support. Contact us today to learn how our products can be tailored to meet your prison’s openings’ needs and take the next step toward a safer, more efficient facility.