Experience life as an inmate during this Saline County event celebrating its new jail

Those who might wonder what it is like to spend a night in jail will have the opportunity to try it in early November.

The Saline County community is invited for a Slumber in the Slammer event hosted by the Saline County Sheriff's Office, where participants will experience life as an inmate without the usual prerequisite of breaking the law.

Among other benefits, the event will aim to help spread community awareness of how inmates are treated and the day-to-day routines that take place in a jail facility.

"When we found out that this was going to get built, that's one of the things that, right off the bat I thought, 'When it gets done, I want to give people the opportunity to spend the night there, without being in custody,'" said Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan.

What is inmate life like?

Participants in Slumber in the Slammer will experience life as an inmate, complete with their own cell and inmate ID. There will be a jailhouse dinner provided, as well as a variety of events to help people understand jail staff roles.

The Special Operations Response Team (SORT) will present a cell extraction demonstration, as well as an overview of equipment used by correctional officers and other workers.

"Whatever situations arise in the jail, like an inmate that's refusing to cooperate or ... just people refusing to lockdown, something where we need extra people here ... (the SORT team) come as a team and go take care of what needs to be done," said Lt. Jeremiah Hayes.

A trained employee will act as an inmate refusing to cooperate, and the SORT team will demonstrate tactics like de-escalation and other means of getting situations under control.

Soldan said this unique insight into jail operations will counteract a stereotype that jail conditions are horrible everywhere. He said he hopes it will help people understand that jail is a clean, safe place for people to be in. Of course, it's not a place anyone would want to spend a significant amount of time in, either.

"It's a very secure space and I wouldn't want to spend a lot of time there, especially once you get in your cell, because they're pretty confining," Soldan said. "But it's really a safe place for people to be in."

Soldan said the Slumber in the Slammer idea wasn't solely his but was borrowed from Sheriff Darrell Wilson, who held a similar event when the department added onto the existing jail in 1995.

"It's just an opportunity to showcase the place, really," Soldan said. "To see what your tax dollars paid for."

The event also gives the sheriff's office a chance to have a soft opening and run the new jail before inmates are transported from the existing jail.

Of course, there will be more run-throughs, building checks and training after Slumber in the Slammer, but the event will help staff ensure things like plumbing, phones and other technology are running smoothly.

"The last thing you want to do is move 250 inmates in that space and then have something fail," Soldan said. "So as much shaking down and checking it over as we can do, the better."

After an evening of demonstrations and time spent in the jail, there will be lights out as usual, at which time people have the option to spend the night in the jail or go home.

"If they are in their cell and they want to leave, there's an intercom in every cell so they can call and say, 'I've had enough of this, thanks,' and go home," Soldan said. "They're not confined, but we want them to get the experience of it."

How to sign up for the event

Registration forms are available at the existing Saline County Sheriff's Office, 251 N. 10th St. in Salina. Registration is open from Sept. 1 through Oct. 1, or until the limit of 120 participants is reached.

Because of the jail setup, minors must be accompanied by a parent of the same gender. Genders are separated at lights out.

People will be able to bring personal items like medicine, personal care products, comfortable clothing and even cellphones during their stay. Soldan said it should go without saying, but any illegal drugs, alcohol and weapons are not allowed.

When: Check-in is 5-7 p.m. Nov. 3

Where: New Saline County Jail, 800 E. Pacific Ave. in Salina

Cost: $20 cash with registration

The cost associated with the event includes a T-shirt, a personalized inmate ID with a lanyard, a souvenir cup and a challenge coin dedicated to the event. Any additional proceeds will go toward the Inmate Programs Fund, which supports various education and self-improvement programs in the jail.

Kendrick Calfee has been a reporter with the Salina Journal since 2022, primarily covering government and education. You can reach him at kcalfee@gannett.com or on Twitter @calfee_kc.

This article originally appeared on Salina Journal: Saline County hosts 'Slumber in the Slammer' demonstrating inmate life