From left are Roosevelt County Detention Staff, Roosevelt County Manager Amber Hamilton, NMAC Executive Director Steve Kopelman, Adult Detention Administrator Larry Phillips, NMAC President Tyler Massey, Adult Detention Professional Standards Council Chair Manuel Romero and Detention Staff receiving their Certificate of Accreditation Award.

Santa Fe, New Mexico - The Adult Detention Professional Standards Council (ADPSC) awarded a three (3) year Certificate of Accreditation to Roosevelt County Adult Detention Center on January 1, 2017. The award was presented during the New Mexico Association of Counties' (NMAC) 2017 Legislative Conference on January 19, 2017 in Santa Fe, NM. The Certificate of Accreditation is awarded to those county detention facilities which meet or exceed best practice standards in detention, as developed and approved by the ADPSC. The standards were developed for New Mexico jail facilities based on suggested best practices from detention facilities across the nation. NMAC Executive Director Steve Kopelman said, GǣThe Adult Detention Professional Standards Council has developed uncompromising, yet attainable, professional standards for detention facilities in New Mexico.Gǥ

A joint initiative of NMAC and the New Mexico Municipal League, ADPSC's mission is to enhance the professionalism, uniformity and consistency in the operation of detention facilities in New Mexico. In 2010, ADPSC developed a voluntary accreditation program based on best practice recommendations of organizations such as the American Correctional Association and the National Commission on Correctional Healthcare, as well as best practices policies and procedures of detention facilities across the nation. To date, seven (7) counties have attained accredited status, with three (3) counties actively pursuing accreditation. ADPSC Chair Manuel Romero said, GǣRoosevelt County Adult Detention Center's accreditation reflects its commitment and focus on the accreditation process. I congratulate Roosevelt County Detention Center on this major accomplishment.Gǥ

County Manager Amber Hamilton commented GǣRoosevelt County's detention team is young, passionate and extremely driven in achieving this goal of accreditation. There were extraordinary efforts put forth by the entire team, under the leadership of then Administrator Joseph Alaniz to earn this distinction. It has been truly challenging for our facility, both financially and physically, as we are the smallest facility to achieve accreditation.Gǥ

Roosevelt County initiated the accreditation process with an application in the fall of 2014, and began working on the process in late 2015. There are 208 standards that must be followed with policy and documentation. GǣOur experience with the New Mexico Adult Detention Center Professional Standards Council Accreditation team lead by Scott Chambers was so positive. I would strongly recommend every facility consider pursuing accreditation as the process and learning experience are second to none,Gǥ Hamilton added.

GǣOur entire team has remained committed to achieving accreditation as we've worked diligently this past year to make our goal a reality,Gǥ stated Facility Auditor Shayla Ramsey.

GǣI'm very proud of our facility and all the team members, including our County Manager, that have made this possible,Gǥ stated Commission Chairman Paul Grider. GǣI feel it's a great service for our County to operate at this higher standard and love that the new Magistrate Court Building is connected to the facility.Gǥ

Founded in 1936 and incorporated in 1968, the New Mexico Association of Counties is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization governed by New Mexico county elected officials and employees. Its mission is to serve as a statewide voice for all counties in New Mexico. It accomplishes this by providing counties with legislative representation, general research, and training and assistance in developing and improving the administration and financing of county government. NMAC also operates self-insurance pools on behalf of member counties, covering workers' compensation, law enforcement, and property and casualty coverage. Please contact Steve Kopelman at 505.469.5584 or skopelman@nmcounties.org or ADPSC Chair Manuel Romero at 505.629.8799 or mromero@nmcounties.org for more information. Please visit the NMAC website at www.nmcounties.org.