The weapons board is full of manufactured weapons officers have found over the years.

"We find them in the day rooms, we find them underneath their bunks, sometimes in their personal property, sometimes right on the inmate," says Sergeant Steve Metzger, Yellowstone County Detention Facility Training Manager.

Sgt. Metzger says he finds some very creative weapons, but he also finds a large number of toothbrushes or spoons easily sharpened by repetitive rubbing.

"Oh, hundreds."

There's also the quicker method of just a bar of soap or even dominoes in a sock.

In the world outside prison bars, people own weapons for various reasons. At YCDF inmates manufacture the items for status, because they're bored or to do actual harm to others. But jail overcrowding also plays a role.

"Probably personal safety is the main reason."

But, that's not always the case. The night before our interview officers found an item that looked like a long club. It may have been created to harm an officer. It was just rolled up newspaper soaked, tied with a bed-sheet.

"It's about three to four pounds. It would stun you if you got hit with it and especially you weren't expecting it somebody just pulled it out you opened a cell door and all of a sudden someone's swinging it at you. It would definitely wake you up a little bit."

The club was found during a routine cell shakedown.

"There's constantly, always somebody looking for something inside the facility here."

They search cells, the inmates themselves, in common areas and bathrooms. Yes, the toilet is a good hiding place.

"They've actually taken a bolt out of the toilet sharpened it up and put the rod back into the wall. Even went as far as to use toothpaste to glue it back."

But with a little pressure or some water, it breaks loose and "they've got a shank that's 16" to 17" long."

If weapons like these are found, the owner can lose privileges for buying personal items or snacks, they can lose access to television, activities and visits, and the most brutal punishment is lockdown in a cell for 23 hours straight.

"It becomes very stark for them, if they're found with a weapon."

Sgt. Metzger says the punishment isn't the only deterrent inmates have when it comes to making these items. He says the direct supervision style jail helps a lot.

"You always have an officer present. It’s kind of like when you were in school, if you remember what happened the teacher left the room, you know everyone got wild and crazy because nobody was there to guide them."

It's just one more way officers are working to keep the community safe and free of harm out on the streets and behind bars.

Sgt. Metzger says the weapons board was created to show kids on tours if they end up in jail there's a possibility these makeshift weapons could be used against them. They hope children will get the idea jail is not a place they want to be.