For once, being arrested, escorted to and locked up in jail is fun and beneficial to your community! Popular “jail and bail” fundraisers involve arresting citizens and playspace supporters on trumped up charges, escorting them to a public space (jail) and having them make calls to friends and families for “bail.” All bail money supports your project!
The event usually begins with someone calling “criminals,” informing them of their “arrest.” Off-duty police officers or volunteers “arrest” the unsuspecting participant, serving them with a warrant. He or she is then whisked off to “jail”. An alternative is to have people make a donation, thereby earning the right to choose someone who will go to jail. That person then has to either raise enough contributions to match their friend’s donation, or match bail set by a judge.
When the participants arrive at the “jail”, their bail is set by a volunteer judge. With telephones and telephone books, the jailbirds make pledge calls to friends, relatives and co-workers to earn their bail. Most incarcerations last for one to two hours.
Prep Steps:
1) Decide how you’d like to organize your Jail and Bail. You may want to have well-known folks “volunteer” to be sent to jail.
2) Recruit lots of volunteer police officers, judges and a couple of cooks to prepare a snack for the jailbirds.
3) Decide on a public location for jail. Get a supply of telephones so that jailbirds can make bail calls.
4) Advertise your event.
Materials:
1) Phones
2) Phone books/Phone Lists
3) Snacks
4) Flyers
Helpful Hints:
• Fun-loving folks may only be arrested with their consent.
• Consider a “Most Wanted” list for prominent citizens willing to participate.
Raised: $$
When: M
Publicity: Medium
Volunteers: 15
Challenge: Moderate
Audience: 100
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