Inmate housing rearranged at Roosevelt jail

PORTALES — The Roosevelt County Detention Center has rearranged the way it houses inmates, according to RCDC Administrator Justin Porter.

"What it does is it doesn't rely on current charges; it relies on the type of charge, so you put violent people with violent people and less violent people with less violent people," Porter explained the change to Roosevelt County commissioners at their meeting Tuesday morning.

"When we did this reclassification, it was a huge project undertaking. We were able to do that with no use of force the day that we rearranged people with the understanding that we knew there was going to be some fall off with the detainees, because everyone was being placed around different people," Porter continued. "Most of them don't like where they ended up, especially our troublemakers, who are now being housed with other troublemakers."

Porter said the rearranging has decreased use of force incidents throughout the facility and condensed problems to a particular area.

"I was really proud of our staff because I've seen those situations go pretty bad — everybody starts fighting and throwing things — and the staff was very professional and was able to de-escalate and explain (to inmates) what was going on and that we are allowing more privileges for those whose behavior is more appropriate."

Porter said detainees who show good behavior are being rewarded with more recreational activities and work opportunities, such as laundry services and grounds and office clean up.

He said trouble-making inmates are losing privileges, such as two inmates who have been assaulting and attempting to assault officers and other inmates now have to have restraints while doing recreational activities.

Porter said the facility has also instituted some rule changes, such as there are now two officers specifically assigned to deal with the problem detainees.

He said he is also is also trying to bring educational programs into the facility, such as GED programs. Parenting and anger management classes have also started, and he hopes to further decrease incidents by providing those classes.

Porter added that the good time policy has also been changed due to legislation coming out that says people who are separated, particularly those housed by themselves, need to have more recreational time outside of their cells. The former RCDC policy said inmates had to have at least one hour out of their cells at least five times a week. The new policy says they will have at least three hours out of their cells six days per week with two hours in the day room and one hour outside.

Sheriff Malin Parker told commissioners that his office is also keeping busy with a string of vehicle break ins recently taking place along the Arch highway and New Mexico 206 and deputies having recently finished an operation with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

County Road Superintendent Ricky Lovato reported that his crews have finished 2016 and 2017 capital outlay projects and are now working on routine maintenance, cattle guards and shredding.

The following were other actions taken at the Roosevelt County Commission meeting Tuesday in the county courthouse:

• Treasurer Layle Sanchez reported to commissioners that county investments "are on the upward slope again," while also telling them that the county can go out for Requests for Proposals (RFP) again if they want to do more investing.

• Commissioners appointed road viewers for South Roosevelt Road 28 for one mile east of South Roosevelt Road AC. The road viewers will be David Craig, Randy Lieb and Bennie Taylor.

• Commissioners approved a North Point Subdivision of 17 acres.

• Commissioners approved the new county road policy.

Lovato told commissioners that the report had been altered to remove cattle guard installation fees and road cut fees for dirt roads and changed the policy in regard to the inspection of road cuts, as well as made some minor format changes.

• Commissioners approved donating property back to the Roosevelt County Special Hospital District.

County attorney Randy Knudson said Roosevelt General Hospital had donated land to Roosevelt County for the planned ARISE (Sexual Assault Services) building, and now that funding is no longer available for the building, the county has no use for the land.

• Commissioners approved renewing their IT services with Yucca Telecom and beginning dental services with ACC Health.

• Commissioners approved renewing the contract with Doerr & Knudson for legal services for $175 per hour.