Zarahemla Prison is the prison used during the inquiry into the death of the chief judge. Nephi’s tower stood by the highway leading to “the chief market, which was in the city of Zarahemla.” After Nephi spoke, five men “ran to the judgment-seat” to test his words about the judge (Helaman 7:10; Helaman 9:1).
At the judgment-seat, the five found the judge dead and fell to the earth in astonishment. Officials “laid hold on them, and bound them and cast them into prison,” then announced that the judge had been slain and the supposed murderers taken. Others later referred to “five who are the murderers, whom we have cast into prison” (Helaman 9:9; Helaman 9:12).
The five testified that after they recovered from astonishment, “they cast us into prison” (Helaman 9:14). Some Nephites believed because of the five, “for they had been converted while they were in prison” (Helaman 9:39).