I recently came across a story on KRQE news about the New Mexico Department of Finance and administration allocating $24.8 million to fund new corrections officers for 22 out of 33 County Jails and Prison facilities in New Mexico
While, I agree that, yes, we absolutely need more corrections officers, and this is great opportunity to get much needed help in our FAILING county jail and prison system.
I believe this topic definitely needs more attention, specifically for those facilities on our Southern border.
With the ongoing situation at our border, counties like ours are in need of an increased number of corrections officers and jail staff. As it stands now, Otero County Detention Center, as last report, had a 32 % vacancy rate for detention center employees, but only will receive enough funds to hire 4 new corrections officers.This still leaves an incredible shortage of corrections officers.
I have questions…so many questions!
How was it determined what facilities get what funds?
Did those in our state government take into consideration crime rates in surrounding community of said county jail, location of the county jail/facility, or periods of unrest in the specific jail that receives funds?