Jail

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.

Locked in Jail

Your token will be locked in Jail if:

1. Your token landed on the corner with a Police Officer that says "GO TO JAIL".
2. You drew a Chance or Community Chest card that says "GO DIRECTLY TO JAIL".
3. You got a "Triple Double" (Achieved by getting 3 Doubles in a single turn). (This does not count if you roll from getting the "Advance to the nearest Utility" Chance card, as you are rolling for the payment and not moving).

Notes:

• The player sent to Jail cannot collect $200 salary in that move, no matter where their token are at, they must move their piece DIRECTLY into Jail. A player's turn ends when he is sent to Jail, even if they got a double then landed on the Police corner or drew a "Go Directly to Jail" card from Chance or Community Chest before Triple Double.
• You may buy and build houses and/or hotels, sell or buy property, collect rent, mortgage properties, participate in auctions and deal with other players while 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.
• If you got a Triple Double, you must forfeit the 3rd run.

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 can only stay in Jail for up to 3 turns. 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

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.