SILVER CITY, NM - The Southwestern Chapter of the ACLU-NM will begin a petition signature drive immediately, requesting the Grant County Commission to establish an Oversight Committee for the Grant County Detention Center. The local chapter has continued to monitor the operation of the County's Detention Center since a previous Grant County Detention Center Advisory Committee was allowed to expire. Through occasional visitations and discussions with both detainees and the Administration, the ACLU Chapter has attempted to resolve ongoing problems of health, safety, and civil liberties of those incarcerated.
"In recent months there have been recurring issues which appear to infringe on the rights of the detainees," said Chapter President, William Hudson. "Among those concerns were the lack of adequate health care, lack of access to legal materials and information, and apparent failure of the detention center to follow its own inadequate procedure concerning detainee grievances."
Despite repeated assurances that the Detention Center was working to rectify the problems, no changes were ever implemented. The Southwestern Chapter drafted a letter to the Administration on June 10, outlining some of the major areas of concern and reiterating its willingness to work with them in resolving the problems. To date, there has been no response. In light of these facts, the Southwestern Chapter of ACLU-NM felt it is necessary for Grant County to authorize a new Detention Oversight Committee. To that end a Petition to the Commissioners of Grant County has been drafted:
- Whereas; there was previously, an established Grant County Detention Center Advisory Committee, authorized by the Grant County Commission, and
- Whereas; the Grant County Detention Center Advisory Committee, was allowed to expire without renewal, and
- Whereas; there are continuing problems with the Grant County Detention Center which are not being addressed, involving the health, safety and civil rights of those being held in detention,
- Therefore; we the undersigned request the County Commission of Grant County, New Mexico, establish a County Detention Center Oversight Committee, for the purpose of establishing and maintaining the highest detention standards.
The Southwestern Chapter of ACLU-NM will be present in Gough Park during the July 4th celebration. Everyone is urged to stop at their booth in order to sign the petition and learn more about this and other civil liberties issues