County commissioners tour detention center

Curry County commissioners completed their annual tour and inspection of the Curry County Detention Center (CCDC) Tuesday.

Joe Alaniz, an administrator for CCDC walked the commissioners through the jail and went over the process of getting someone booked in.

Commissioners addressed different needs for the jail with Alaniz, and also discussed numbers and various updates.

Commission chair Robert Thornton told the News, "Mr. Alaniz is doing a very good job in taking over and running the jail."

Detention Administrator Mark Gallegos submitted his resignation earlier this year, and since then, Alaniz has filled in that role.

As far as improvements, Thornton said he and other commissioners thought some new lights were needed in different places and possibly some new flooring in the pods, where inmate cells are located.

The detention center was able to acquire new laundry equipment in the last couple months, which Thornton believes will be a big help to the staff.

As of Tuesday, CCDC houses 164 inmates,133 males and 31 females.

Five inmates have been there for over two years and 10 have been there for over one year.

"We have a lot of violence in the community, and that is reflected," Alaniz said regarding the past year.

The commission will present results of their inspection at their next meeting on September 26.