Curious onlookers passing through Market Street in Mudgee would have noticed a jail cell filled with inmates throughout the late morning and early afternoon on Friday.

First in the cell was Wilpinjong general manager Blair Jackson, who raised almost $17,000 to exit custody despite being “sentenced” to collect a fraction of that.

And the timing of this year’s event meant that some high profile “inmates” were able to lend their support when they went behind bars.

Country-City Origin coaching staff – along with Ken Sutcliffe – did a stint in the prison cell and provided a significant boost both to fundraising and exposure for the local campaign. 

The Time 4 Kids participants were picked up at their work place by the police, led away in handcuffs. 

The "inmates" were brought before a judge on trumped up charges and ordered to ring around their contacts for enough money to "bail" themselves out of the cell.

Members of the community and local businesses were nominated by family, friends and work colleagues.

Money raised during the PCYC's 'Time 4 Kids' goes to fund the organisation's work with young offenders and at-risk youth.

The slogan is “doing time to stop youth crime.”

Time4Kids is an initiative of PCYC NSW, in partnership with the community and NSW Police.

The Mudgee PCYC Time 4 Kids 2017 “inmates”: