Accreditation process assessment complete

STAFF WRITER

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The Roosevelt County Detention Center is revamping its approach to the New Mexico Government Accreditation Program, Adult Detention Standards process, according to an assessment performed by contractor Sandra Stewart.

Stewart, who was hired in February to assess where the detention center was at in the accreditation process, presented her completed assessment Tuesday to county commissioners.

Roosevelt County Manager Amber Hamilton said there is no statewide set of detention center standards for New Mexico, but commissioners felt “very strongly” about improving the Roosevelt County facility through the accreditation process.

Hamilton said before the assessment, commissioners and the county administration had been under the impression the accreditation process was further along than it is.

Hamilton said the detention center is “playing catch-up” to meet the accreditation process deadlines.

Hamilton said completing the accreditation process will increase the functionality and efficiency of the detention center and bring revenue in through housing inmates from other counties.

“We want to have a facility that every other county wants to house inmates and know that the inmates will be treated well,” Hamilton said.

According to the assessment, the detention center applied for the accreditation process in August 2014, which was approved, and has two years from the time of the approval to come into compliance with the accreditation’s standards and pass an inspection.

In Stewart’s assessment she found that detention center staff “knew little about the process.”

Stewart said the two individuals charged as accreditation managers left the facility and there was no back-up plan for their absence.

The detention center was supposed to receive an initial visit from the New Mexico Association of Counties 30-45 days after the accreditation application approval to review file folders containing for each standard the facility has to meet and determine if they were collecting the necessary information to pass an inspection.

According to Stewart’s assessment, the file folders had been created but contained none of the necessary information. The assessment said the initial NMAC had been scheduled on more than one occasion, but had never happened.

Stewart has 20 years experience in the criminal justice system and 10 years in the corrections field.

The accreditation’s standards include 37 standards regarding administration, nine standards regarding the physical plant or facility, 15 standards regarding safety and sanitation, 84 standards regarding security and control, 47 standards regarding medical and mental health, and 16 standards regarding Inmate Program.

The detention center had made no effort to update the facility’s procedure manual from 2007. Stewart’s assessment states there is no indication any attempts have been made to update or revise the center’s policies and procedures.

The detention center is making strides in an effort to remedy the problems in the accreditation process, according to the assessment.

A new accreditation manager has been selected and promoted from within the facility.

Ashley Snyder is currently training in Santa Fe to be the facility’s new compliance and training sergeant with accreditation being one of her duties.

The accreditation process has since been explained to staff and staff will be informed and involved in the process.

New policies and procedures have been reviewed by county administration and legal staff and are “on their way to becoming official,” according to the assessment.

A plan is in place to train staff, contractors, and volunteers on the new policies and procedures once they are finalized.

The center has also hired Lt. Mark Gallegos, former warden of the Santa Fe County Detention Center.

According to the assessment, Gallegos succeeded in getting the Santa Fe Detention Center accredited in 14 months.

“Mark was a golden find,” Roosevelt County Manager Amber Hamilton said. “We have a phenomenal group that knows how to come in, set goals, and work toward them.”

The detention center should be ready for the NMAC’s initial inspection in 30-45, Stewart said in the assessment.

In Stewart’s conclusion she said she believes that with effective leadership the center can be ready for accreditation in 12-14 months.

In the event that the facility is not prepared for accreditation by the August 2016 deadline, a short extension can be requested.

Detention Center Administrator David Casanova is currently out on leave and has not yet been able to view Stewart’s assessment, according to Hamilton. Casanova said he is out on medical leave.