Q&A: Acting jail admin talks trends and staffing

Editor’s note: This is one in a continuing series of interviews with local officials. Joe Alaniz is the acting Curry County Detention Center administrator. He’s filling in for Administrator Mark Gallegos who is in military service with the Naval Reserve.

Q: What trends are you seeing with arrests?

A: Recidivism is quite high, but the influx of new arrests also seems to be on the rise.

Q: How is staffing? Recruiting and retaining?

A: Like so many agencies and businesses we are still experiencing the residual effects of COVID. However, comparatively speaking, we are doing consistently well in the areas of recruitment and retention.

Q: There is a confined area in the detention center and more open areas for detainees. What has to be the case for a detainee to be moved to a confined cell?

A: The primary purpose would be for the safety and security of the individual detainee.

Q: How has the $12 million worth of renovations constructed a few years ago impacted the operation and management of detainees?

A: An upgraded living/work environment such as those implemented in those renovations tends to promote streamlined efficiency for the staff and comfort and ease of access for the detainees. In essence, an overall benefit for all.

Q: The past few years the county has invested a lot into the detention with x-ray machines, mail scanners, tablets, video visitation. How have those investments impacted operations?

A: The full-body scanner and the ion scanner have aided in the safety and security of the facility. The tablets and video visitation have allowed for education and the ease of visitation for the detainee population.

Q: The county is in budget development for next fiscal year. Does the detention center have any requests? If money isn’t an option, what would you like to see and why?

A: It would be wonderful if money was not a consideration, but realistically, more funding for training -- not initial, but continuous and focused, and possibly an increased budget for equipment.

A real boon would be a vehicle without a transportation partition. Fortunately, this county has great county commissioners, and a county manager with pronounced foresight and a solid understanding of facility needs. So, while wish lists can always be created, the needs of the facility to properly address the broad needs of the detainee population are always on the forefront.

— Compiled by Landry Sena, the Staff of The News