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Detention center bookings on the rise

CLOVIS — An increase in bookings at the Curry County Adult Detention Center may have more to do with probation violations than drug busts.

CCADC Administrator Mark Gallegos reported to Curry County commissioners Tuesday at their regular monthly session that bookings at the jail are up from the previous month.

Gallegos reported 135 inmates for February and 177 for March.

In an interview with The News, Gallegos was asked for his “gut instinct” as to why there was a jump in bookings from February to March.

“For one thing February has 28 days as opposed to 31,” Gallegos said. “(Also), I believe it’s probation and parole violations, like failed urinalysis, violation of conditions of their release.” Reduced restrictions related to COVID-19 in recent months has allowed probation officers to return to regular monitoring duties, he said, which results in more violations.

Gallegos had been asked by Curry County commissioners Seth Martin and Tom Martin if the rise in bookings had anything to do with the legalization of recreational marijuana in the state.

Gallegos told the commissioners he would be keeping track of bookings that come to the detention center to see if cannabis is involved.

“We may be talking about possessing more than allowed, driving while impaired,” Gallegos said. “I’ll be keeping track of it.”

One drug that is a topic of conversation at the detention center is fentanyl.

Gallegos says he’s been having conversations with those being booked into the detention center and more and more of those he’s talked to have admitted to using fentanyl.

“This is a very dangerous drug,” Gallegos said. “Two salt-grain-sized bits of this drug can kill. It’s very dangerous. This drug is going around and being abused. We need to be aware of this drug.”

 
 
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