County commissioners report sanitation, staffing and infrastructure needs after detention center inspection
Loading...
Summary
Commissioners reported generally professional staff and some clean areas but identified urgent facility needs at the Doña Ana County detention center—expanded laundry and break rooms, power-washing, repairs to master control rooms, commissary pricing concerns and requests for biometric booking and an x-ray machine.
Doña Ana County commissioners who toured the county detention center reported a mix of commendations and concerns during a presentation at the Jan. 27 meeting, recommending facility improvements and further budget review ahead of the next budget cycle.
Commissioner Sabato and Commissioner Chaparro described mostly clean guard pods and medical areas, but noted operational problems such as a broken dishwasher that left kitchen staff washing trays by hand and a cramped laundry area that staff said needs expansion. Chaparro said staff cooperated during inspections and praised staff professionalism but urged infrastructure upgrades: "We need to expand about 30,000 square feet," she said, and flagged emergency‑egress issues in at least one control area.
Commissioners raised the prices of commissary items as a concern: one speaker cited a $20 price for a bag of potato chips and a $48.32 price for a box of tampons in the commissary. Commissioners said some juvenile cells and day rooms showed debris and scaling that suggested plumbing or water‑softener problems; they recommended power‑washing, replacement of worn chairs and blinds, and improved sanitation of medical and observation areas.
Other recommendations included investing in biometric identifiers for booking, body scanners, and consideration of an x‑ray machine for medical processing; commissioners also noted an uptick in federal detainees and reported concerns about fentanyl entering the facility from outside. County staff said the budget team will visit the facility prior to the budget cycle to assess needs and follow up with Director Baker.
No formal vote was taken at the meeting on capital upgrades; commissioners asked staff to return with cost estimates and to coordinate site visits before budget decisions are made.
