Detention Center

The Socorro County Detention Center is committed to establishing best practices in detention as our way of conducting business. Public safety and the constitutional rights of those confined within these walls are paramount, so our goal is to promote and adhere to these practices.

Socorro County Detention Center books in over 1,000 men and women each year. Violent and drug-related crimes are occurring at an alarming rate in this County, this comes at a significant cost, both financially to taxpayers and in lost productivity in the County. As citizens of Socorro County, we must realize that the offenders in this facility are our family, friends and neighbors who have made bad choices. Our mission includes maintaining an environment that encourages respect and dignity and promotes positive change in individuals.

The employees of this department have a most challenging task. Most law-abiding citizens are not aware of the difficult job that the men and women of this department perform in this 24/7 operation. Detention Officers work and live by the following values: integrity, honesty, firmness, fairness, and impartiality.

Fulfilling our mission statement is no small task. Socorro County Citizens would be amazed to learn of the daily challenges that detention employees face on the job and the effect it has on their personal life. Always answering the call, our employees take our mission seriously and strive to perform their duties to the best of their ability. We are thankful for the many dedicated employees who work here and proud of the job they do with some of the county's most challenging individuals.

• You must be 18 years or older to visit an inmate, with no exceptions.

• Please bring a valid ID with you at the time of visitation.

• Each inmate is allowed up to two visits per week, one per visitation day, and one person per visitation.

• All visits are non-contact.

• All visitations must be scheduled on the day of the visit (Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday) by calling 575.835.0945 x1504, between the hours of 8 AM and 9 AM. Requests made outside those hours will not be considered. If you are unable to reach anyone at this number, please continue to try, and you will be received as soon as possible.

• Visitation appointments are made on a first-come, first-serve basis.

• Visits are Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, The hours of visitation are 9:00 AM through 3:00 PM. The time block is determined by the inmate's pod assignment.

• Visits are limited to 15-minutes each

• Visitors must comply with all dress, conduct, incarceration, and age rules outlined in the Inmate Handbook.

• Please be aware that visitation may be canceled at any time for any reason.

• We now have a kiosk at the detention center that accepts cash

Due to outside attempts to import contraband into the Socorro County Detention Center, all personal items must be purchased through the commissary system.

• Inmates must comply with all fund rules outlined in the Inmate Handbook in order to maintain funds in their commissary account

• Socorro County no longer accepts cash for inmate commissary. If you would like to add money to an inmate's account, you must:

  • Deposit a money order or a cashier's check at the Detention Center during the hours of 8 AM-3 PM Monday through Friday.

  • Use a credit/debit card at the kiosk located inside the Socorro County Detention Center during regular business hours (8 AM-5 PM Monday through Friday).

  • If you would like to add money after normal business hours, you may go online to jailatm.com

• $5.00 minimum deposit to a commissary account.

• The inmate will make their own commissary orders within the facility.

The Socorro county Detention Center encourages detainees to correspond with families and with their legal counsel. By establishing guidelines, the facility ensures timely mail service to detainees and at the same time maintains order and security.

Inmates may write letters as often as they wish, providing they have sufficient funds for postage. Stamps, envelopes, and paper may be purchased through the commissary. For indigent inmates, three stamped envelopes and 6 pieces of writing paper are provided each month.

• Inmates must comply with all mail rules outlined in the Inmate Handbook

• For the purpose of facility security, incoming mail will be opened and scanned for contraband.

• All legal mail will be opened in front of the inmate.

• Non-legal outgoing mail will be scanned for security purposes

• Use the following format when sending mail to an inmate:

Name of inmate
P.O. Box 598
Socorro, NM 87801

Reasons for Rejection(s) of Mail:

• Pornographic and sexually explicit publications and photos are not allowed into the facility.

• Publications or pictures that encourage or show containers of alcohol or drug use are prohibited.

• Publications explaining/ depicting the use of weapons and or explosive devices are prohibited.

• Mail received without the sender’s full name and returned address will be rejected.

• Envelopes that contain any type of drawings, stickers, additional writing (example: SWAK, XOXO, write back soon), or other writing that is not part of the sender’s name and address or the detainee’s address will be returned.

• Envelopes that have any type of make-up or lipstick will be returned.

• Gang-related publications, symbols, or drawings are prohibited.

• Envelopes or pages with any stains such as water, blood, or food stains will be returned.

• Any mail containing crayon, marker, colored pencil/ink, glitter or glitter ink will be returned.

• If the inmate is housed in another county, all personal mail will be returned.

Socorro County uses Encartele, a third-party phone provider, who manages the system and billing for all inmate calls. In order to received phone calls from an inmate, you must be able to receive collect calls or prepay for the service.

Anyone who is arrested on new charges will have an initial Court appearance within 4 days of the arrest at the Socorro County Magistrate Court located at 102 Winkler Street, Socorro, NM. For further information please contact Socorro County Magistrate Court at (575) 835-2500.

District warrants and probation violations may vary.

Upon release, inmates will receive personal property taken at the time of booking into the Facility. The inmate must sign for these items.

If you have money in your account a Rapid Release Debt Card will be issued to you at the time of your release, please read the instructions carefully.

Inmates may release all personal property to anyone they choose at the time of booking or if the inmate is sentenced to a corrections facility. The person picking up the property must provide valid picture identification such as a driver's license, ID, or passport.

Any personal property left in the Facility will be held for 30 days from the date of the inmate’s release or transfer to the department of corrections. It is the inmate’s responsibility to notify someone to pick up his/her property. After 30 days, the property will be disposed of.

Socorro County does not allow marriages to be performed at our facility or while an inmate is in our custody.

Zero tolerance means that no sexual act, contact or harassment, will be tolerated between any inmate with another inmate and/or between an inmate and an employee. Staff found guilty of such violations will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including immediate termination and possible criminal prosecution. Inmates will be subject to disciplinary action consistent with requirements of the Socorro County Detention Center’s Inmate Disciplinary Procedures, and may be subject to criminal prosecution.

Socorro County Detention Center is committed to its “zero tolerance policy” of sexual assault and sexual victimization. This zero tolerance policy affects every employee and every person under Socorro County Detention supervision. Please report any assaults or victimizations that are sexual in nature to a staff member, in writing or call (575) 835-0589 Ext. 1110 for Michael Hawkes the County Manager’s direct phone line. Any reports will be kept as confidential, as the circumstance allows.

Complaints or questions can be forwarded to Eddie Garcia, Administrator.

The bonding process may enable inmates to be released from custody while waiting for their court date. The types of bonds are listed below.

Cash Bond

The full amount of the bond is paid in cash directly to the court or to a bonding agency. The bond will be returned, minus any fines or costs imposed,after the case is complete. The Socorro County Detention Center does not accept cash, bonds must be paid by money order or cashiers check.

Surety Bond

Professional Bondsman - A licensed bondsman posts the bond and charges a fee based on a percentages of the inmate's total bond. Detention staff is not allowed to recommend a bondsman or bonding company. Either the detainee or the detainee's family/friends must initiate contact with a bondsman. Surety bonds can be posted at Socorro County Detention Center with approval by Arraigning Magistrate/Municipal judge.

Property Bond

If the inmate, a relative or a friend has sufficient equity in a home, building, or real estate, he or she may be allowed to use the property as collateral for a property bond. A property bond must be posted through the court.

Personal Recognizance Bond

Promise to appear in court when ordered and the inmate's agreement to abide by any special conditions that may be a condition of the bond. The judge may also require that the bond be co-signed by a second person to further insure the inmate's appearance in court.

Prior to the first court appearance after arrest, the only bonds normally available are cash and surety bonds. A judge must authorize any other type of bond.

Cash Bonds may be paid at the court of record. Currency will not be accepted at the detention center. Cashier's check or money orders should be made payable to the appropriate court.

The Socorro County Detention Center is a proud member of the State's Victim Information and Notification Everyday (V.I.N.E.) System, the National Victim Notification Network. This service allows crime victims to obtain timely and reliable information about criminal cases and the custody status of offenders 24 hours a day.

The toll-free VINE number to call for more information on registering to be notified on the status of incarcerated individuals is 877-551-VINE (877-551-8463). Victims may also use the online version of V.I.N.E., VINELink. Victims and other concerned citizens can also register to be notified by phone, email, text message (SMS) or TTY device when an offender's custody status changes.