L:R-Accreditation Program Manager Scott Chambers, Adult Detention Professional Standards Council Chair Manuel Romero, Doña Ana County Adult Detention Center's Administrator Chris Barela receiving their Certificate of Re-Accreditation Award, NMAC Executive Director Steve Kopelman, and NMAC President Tyler Massey.Santa Fe, New Mexico - The Adult Detention Professional Standards Council (ADPSC) awarded a Certificate of Re-accreditation to Doña Ana County Adult Detention Center during the New Mexico Association of Counties' 81st Annual Conference on June 23, 2017 in Taos, NM.
The Certificate of Reaccreditation is awarded to those county detention facilities which continue to 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, "The Adult Detention Professional Standards Council has developed uncompromising, yet attainable, professional standards for detention facilities in New Mexico."
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 counties have attained accreditation status, with two counties currently pursuing accreditation. ADPSC Chair Manuel Romero said, "Doña Ana County Detention Center's accreditation reflects its commitment and focus on the accreditation process. I congratulate the Doña Ana County Detention Center staff on this major accomplishment."
Detention Administrator Chris Barela remarked, "We are honored to once again 'earn' this certification for the citizens of our County from the New Mexico Association of Counties ADPSC. This Accreditation reinforces our commitment to maintaining a safe and humane jail for our County, and is the result of hard work, and dedication to the vision that NMAC ADPSC has developed. The honor of this award in our facility goes to all the Officers, Sergeants, Lieutenants, Captains, Administrative Staff, Contractors, and Volunteers of our facility with a very special shout out to (former) Captain Justin Porter, who is now the Administrator of the Roosevelt County Facility. It was in large part through his dedication and guidance and steadfast oversight during this process that this was again possible. This facility will continue to hold itself and exceed the standards of this accreditation. We remain dedicated to maintaining this level of standard.
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.