USA: Torrance County hires jail consultant to look at options

Heated debate surrounds differing opinions about jail

Beth Hahn Mountain View Telegraph; Special to El Defensor Chieftain

The Torrance County Commission approved a $10,000 contract with a jail consultant after a heated debate Wednesday.

Several weeks ago, Oklahoma detention consultant Brandi Johnson made a presentation that offered to help the county decide whether to build a county jail.

Johnson will study the county's jail needs in terms of size, cost and preparation for future expansion. The county currently houses inmates in Estancia's Corrections Corporation of America prison, as well as the Cibola County Jail.

Last month, county officials attended a meeting hosted by District Attorney Clint Wellborn on the subject of a regional jail that would be a partnership among Torrance, Sierra, Catron and Socorro counties.

County Manager Bob Ayre said Wednesday that Johnson's study will be needed, regardless of whether Torrance joins in the regional jail partnership or not.

Commissioner LeRoy Candelaria disagreed, however, and said the $10,000 should be put toward the county's incarceration debt of more than $200,000.

"We should pay off our debt and then look at our situation," he said.

Candelaria also said Torrance should participate in the planning for the regional jail.

But Undersheriff Roy Dennis said Torrance will "be in a bigger mess" if it becomes a partner in a regional jail.

"We need our own facility," he told commissioners.

Dennis added that the county could generate revenue if it builds a methamphetamine treatment facility inside the county jail.

"New Mexico does not have a methamphetamine treatment facility right now," he said. "We either have to send them to California or Louisiana or Texas or some other place."

Part of Johnson's job description includes looking at jail population projections, size needs and cost estimates.

Candelaria said the county hired local resident Dick Ness to serve as a detention consultant at a cost of $20,000.


Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org/amphetablog.html
Pubdate: Sat, 12 November 2005
Source: El Defensor Chieftain (USA)
Website: http://www.dchieftain.com/
Copyright: 2005 El Defensor Chieftain