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Go2jail

The Go to Jail space from the classic board

Jail is one of the four corner spaces on a Monopoly Board. If in Jail, a player's turn is suspended until either the player rolls a double, uses a Get Out of Jail Free card, or pays to get out. If a player is 'Just Visiting', the Jail space is considered a 'safe' space, where nothing happens. In a similar vein to Free Parking, later in the game Just Visiting or even Jail itself offers a welcome respite from having to pay thousands in rent with hotels propping up across the board.

The character on the square is Jake the Jailbird.

Landing in Jail[]

You land in Jail if:

  1. Your piece lands on the space marked "GO TO JAIL".
  2. You draw a Chance card marked "GO DIRECTLY TO JAIL" or Community Chest card marked "GO TO JAIL".
  3. You roll Doubles three times in succession. (does not apply if rolling from getting the "Advance to the nearest Utility" Chance card, as you are rolling for the payment and not moving)

Notes:

  • A player sent to Jail cannot collect $200 salary in that move since, regardless of where his/her piece is or of the path of the board, he/she must move his/her piece DIRECTLY into Jail. A player's turn ends when he is sent to Jail.
  • You may buy and erect houses and/or hotels, sell or buy property, collect rent, mortgage properties, participate in auctions and deal with other players even though in Jail.
  • If you pass go before landing on chance or community chest and drawing a card that sends you to jail, you still collect your salary.

It is a common misconception that such activity must be ceased while in Jail, though some players have a House Rule where a player cannot conduct such business while in Jail.

  • You cannot stay in Jail as long as you like. You must pay the fine (see below), use Get Out of Jail Free or try to roll doubles (see to get out of jail).

Criticism[]

Jail is sometimes criticized as a "skip the rent" card, as players avoid rent, yet still collect all the income from people landing on their own properties. Some people use house rules to restrict such actions, but this makes the game longer.

Visiting Jail[]

Pp-jail

The "Jail" Space on the classic board

If players are not "sent to Jail" but in the ordinary course of play reach that space, they are "Just Visiting"; they incur no penalty, and move ahead in the usual manner on their next turn. However, in the hand-held game, Monopoly Jackpot, landing on the Jail space on a normal roll still results in the player going to jail, thus ending the bonus round.

To Get Out of Jail[]

A player gets out of Jail "early" by:

  1. Rolling Doubles on any of that player's next three turns in Jail. If a player succeeds in doing this, he or she immediately moves forward the number of spaces shown by the throw. Even if doubles are rolled, the player does NOT take another turn.
  2. Using a "GET OUT OF JAIL FREE" card (possibly by purchasing from another player, at a price agreeable to both).
  3. Paying a $50 fine to the Bank BEFORE throwing the dice for either the first turn or the second turn in Jail.

A player MAY NOT remain in Jail after his/her third turn (i.e., not longer than having three turns to play after being sent to Jail). Immediately after throwing the dice for his/her third turn, if the player does not roll Doubles, he or she must pay the $50 fine. He then comes out and moves forward from Jail the number of spaces shown by his/her roll, as normal. Note that some versions have alternate ways of getting out of jail, such as Monopoly for Sore Losers.

Note: Monopoly Get Out Of Jail: The Jail-Jumping Game allows for an alternative method for getting out of Jail.

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