Sheriff Wants Bears In Jail

December 18, 2007
Contact: Elise Schaffer, PIO Phone: (608) 284-6142 Email: schaffer@co.dane.wi.us

The Dane County Sheriff’s Office annual Books and Bears program is in jeopardy this year. For the past 10 years, every child visiting a parent or family member in the Dane County Jail on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day has received a new book and a new stuffed bear. Past donations of these items and/or monies to purchase them have dwindled, placing the program at risk. At a time of year when everyone’s purse strings are stretched and our schedules are full, another gift to buy and place to go may seem like too much of an inconvenience. But imagine what a child having to visit his or her mother or father in jail on Christmas must feel? By receiving a book and a bear when they come to the Dane County Jail on Christmas, it makes their experience a little brighter. It’s also a way for the children to have a positive interaction with law enforcement, under unpleasant circumstances. Anyone interested in donating a new children’s book and/or new stuffed bear, is asked to bring them to the Dane County Courthouse located at 215 S. Hamilton St. in Madison, between the hours of 7am and 5pm, Wednesday through Friday. Weapons screeners at the entrance of the building will be collecting the donations. In years past, jail staff has given out 100-150 books and bears to children at Christmas. The Books and Bears program was started by Dane County Sheriff’s Deputy Darlynn Brown who continues to spearhead the program. ###