JEFFERSON COUNTY, MISSOURI (KTVI-FOX2now.com) -
A new jail-turned-hotel had people from around the country headed for the St. Louis area. They were planning to "bunk" in Jefferson County's newest "bed and breakfast."
It's only for one night, but you can "bed and breakfast" in the new addition to Jefferson County Jail. Bring your own pillow and extra money, because they don't give you pillows in jail and once the door closes behind you, the only way to get out early if you have second thoughts, will be to post bail.
'Show up and be prepared to be booked into the facility just like any inmate," said Jefferson County Sheriff, Oliver "Glenn" Boyer. "You'll be issued a jail uniform when you come in."
He said guests would sleep in jail beds and eat jail food.
"We're going to feed them an evening meal, which will be the same meal we feed our inmates," Boyer said. "They'll feed a breakfast meal which will be the same meal we feed our inmates."
Boyer called the event, Jail and Breakfast. Friday night, July 31st, the new 156 bed minimum security addition to the jail will open as a "bed and breakfast inn". Up to 100 guests can spend the night in the open-bay style jail which was built right where the Sheriff's office used to be.
"Right over there in that corner," Boyer pointed out to Fox 2's Andy Banker. "You've interviewed me in that office before," Boyer laughed.
The sheriff said guests would not be staying in the maximum security cells in the existing jail; they would not come into contact with any inmates.
He said with about 200 inmates and only 120 beds right now, it could cost Jefferson County about $50,000 -a - year to put its prisoners in other jails.
"We really need the space," he said.
He said the county also needed every bit of help it could get in paying for the close to $2.5 million dollar facility. He said renovating the former sheriff's offices was far cheaper than paying an estimated $15 million for a totally new building.
He said travelers from New Jersey and Florida had already made reservations; but be warned, this is no 5 star resort.
"I'd rather not be here. That's all I can say," said Melinda Bowen of Cedar Hill, who was paying hundreds of dollars to bail out after turning herself in Wednesday night for failing to appear in court.
"It's jail. I would never pay to stay here," she laughed.
"When the door closes in a jail it always closes for good," Boyer said.
He added there was a way out for his guests that actual inmates don't get.
"If you want to come in and you decide, 'hey this is not for me', for an additional 10 bucks we'll allow you to bail out early," Boyer said.
He said the night would include a seminar on jail operation, a jail tour, movies and trivia, as well as valuable training for corrections officers in the new facility.
He said guests would not have use the prisoner toilets; they'd have nice, private bathrooms; the showers would not be available. Just like the real inmates, male and female guests would sleep in separate sections.
He said the money raised, probably around $5000, would help offset the cost of things like mattresses and blankets for inmates who would be staying there. He said they would be non-violent offenders, only.
If you'd like to book a reservation to be "booked" or order a "Jail and Breakfast" T-Shirt, call Tanya Bergner at 636-797-5028.
It's only for one night, but you can "bed and breakfast" in the new addition to Jefferson County Jail. Bring your own pillow and extra money, because they don't give you pillows in jail and once the door closes behind you, the only way to get out early if you have second thoughts, will be to post bail.
'Show up and be prepared to be booked into the facility just like any inmate," said Jefferson County Sheriff, Oliver "Glenn" Boyer. "You'll be issued a jail uniform when you come in."
He said guests would sleep in jail beds and eat jail food.
"We're going to feed them an evening meal, which will be the same meal we feed our inmates," Boyer said. "They'll feed a breakfast meal which will be the same meal we feed our inmates."
Boyer called the event, Jail and Breakfast. Friday night, July 31st, the new 156 bed minimum security addition to the jail will open as a "bed and breakfast inn". Up to 100 guests can spend the night in the open-bay style jail which was built right where the Sheriff's office used to be.
"Right over there in that corner," Boyer pointed out to Fox 2's Andy Banker. "You've interviewed me in that office before," Boyer laughed.
The sheriff said guests would not be staying in the maximum security cells in the existing jail; they would not come into contact with any inmates.
He said with about 200 inmates and only 120 beds right now, it could cost Jefferson County about $50,000 -a - year to put its prisoners in other jails.
"We really need the space," he said.
He said the county also needed every bit of help it could get in paying for the close to $2.5 million dollar facility. He said renovating the former sheriff's offices was far cheaper than paying an estimated $15 million for a totally new building.
He said travelers from New Jersey and Florida had already made reservations; but be warned, this is no 5 star resort.
"I'd rather not be here. That's all I can say," said Melinda Bowen of Cedar Hill, who was paying hundreds of dollars to bail out after turning herself in Wednesday night for failing to appear in court.
"It's jail. I would never pay to stay here," she laughed.
"When the door closes in a jail it always closes for good," Boyer said.
He added there was a way out for his guests that actual inmates don't get.
"If you want to come in and you decide, 'hey this is not for me', for an additional 10 bucks we'll allow you to bail out early," Boyer said.
He said the night would include a seminar on jail operation, a jail tour, movies and trivia, as well as valuable training for corrections officers in the new facility.
He said guests would not have use the prisoner toilets; they'd have nice, private bathrooms; the showers would not be available. Just like the real inmates, male and female guests would sleep in separate sections.
He said the money raised, probably around $5000, would help offset the cost of things like mattresses and blankets for inmates who would be staying there. He said they would be non-violent offenders, only.
If you'd like to book a reservation to be "booked" or order a "Jail and Breakfast" T-Shirt, call Tanya Bergner at 636-797-5028.
