Several Story County residents paid to spend a night in the new Story County jail over the weekend.

The Story County Sheriff’s Office sponsored “Slumber in the Slammer,” a fund-raiser for the Center for Creative Justice.

Story County Sheriff Paul Fitzgerald said other jails have had similar events, but the idea to make it a fund-raiser for another organization is unique.

John McGuire, executive director of the Center for Creative Justice, said Slumber in the Slammer and the “generous donations” of participants ($30 for dinner only and a suggested $50-$400 for staying the night) play a large part in the center’s funding.

“We are happy to be here,” McGuire said. “It is nice that the sheriff and his staff thought about the [Center for Creative Justice].”

The center supervises probation for more than 600 Story County residents.

The 52 “inmates” eager to support the Center for Creative Justice arrived at the jail about 5 p.m. Friday and were assigned to their cells. Of those, 24 stayed overnight, while others were granted “early release” after dinner.

Upon arrival, each overnight guest received a large plastic tub with provisions. Items in the tub included a blanket, towel, soap, comb, a toothbrush and toothpaste.

The cells in Pod A, the direct supervision area for male inmates, are narrow – a 6 1/2-size woman’s foot can take 14 steps heel-to-toe, from door to wall – with sterile, white walls and cold, gray floors.

Each cell includes a shelf, four hooks that collapse under the weight of more than a towel, a desk with an attached stainless steel stool and bed with a thin, plastic mattress.

One fluorescent light glares down on the bed and desk from its place high on the opposite wall. The lights never completely shut off, allowing officers to see inside at all hours.

“It is important to share the building with the community,” said Chief Deputy Gary Foster of the Story County Sheriff’s Office. “We saw an opportunity to partner with Center for Creative Justice. Also, it gives the staff the opportunity to have a trial run and work out any kinks in building operations.”

The volunteer inmates were fed a typical prison dinner, served on thick plastic trays. Inmates who chose brown trays got ground-beef sandwiches. Those who took green ate tuna-salad sandwiches. Both meals also included canned peaches, baked beans and a cookie.

After dinner, the volunteers went on a complete tour of the new facility – everywhere from master control to the padded, flushable cell in booking.

Ames resident Rita Shimm visits female inmates at the current jail regularly with friends Marlene Powers, also of Ames, and Marcy Olson, of Story City.

The three women decided to spend a night at the new facility.

“We knew once the jail was finished we’d only get to see the women’s section,” Shimm said. “We wanted a better understanding of what goes on in the jail.”

Nancy Lewis, a retired medical technologist from Ames, said she’d always wanted to spend the night in jail.

“I’ve always had such admiration for people who go to jail for conscience,” Lewis said. “The facility is wonderful. They have thought of so much in terms of handling the inmates and making sure there are some positives for them.”

Fitzgerald said the new facility will comfortably hold 96 inmates when it opens later this month. The building is also designed for expansion.

“All of the auxiliary functions, like the laundry and kitchen, were built to accommodate 150 to 200 inmates,” Fitzgerald said. “We already have the land and plans in place, we would just need to build.”

Fitzgerald said the new jail “has been a long time in coming.”

Once operational, the direct supervision area will house 46 male inmates, who will be under the supervision of one officer.