Before You Arrive: What to Expect During Vehicle and Visitor Searches at CNMCF

Screening at CNMCF can start before you leave your vehicle. Staff may search your car, inspect your hair, check your mouth, and conduct pat searches - and they can do this at any point while you're on facility grounds. You might also encounter drug-detection dogs or mechanical detection devices. Assume screening could happen at any time during your visit.

• ✓ Search of all vehicle contents, including items like purses, coats, briefcases, diaper bags, loose clothing, and children’s toys
• ✓ Visual hair inspection, which can include being asked to shake out your hair or run your fingers, a comb, or a hair pick through it
• ✓ Mouth check (being asked to open your mouth so staff can confirm it’s free of contraband)
• ✓ Thorough pat search of people in the vehicle, including children

CNMCF uses detection devices as part of screening. This includes the New Mexico Corrections Department Canine Unit - dogs trained to detect controlled substances - and mechanical drug detection devices. The key thing to know: searches aren't limited to the first checkpoint. They can happen at any time while you're on institutional grounds.

You may encounter an ION Drug Scan device during screening. It detects minute traces of drug residue - sometimes the kind you can pick up during everyday activities. The facility uses it for one reason: to prevent narcotics from getting inside.

Strip searches aren't routine for visitors. At CNMCF, you'll only be asked to remove clothing if the Warden determines there's probable cause to believe you're carrying contraband.

Refuse a strip search, and your visit ends. CNMCF policy is clear on this - saying no doesn't just stop the search, it cancels your visit entirely.

Alcohol and controlled substances are prohibited on Department property. If any contraband is detected on a visitor - including infants and children - the visit won't happen. Violations can be reported to local law enforcement, and you can be removed from the property. Your future visiting privileges may be suspended or terminated.

• ✓ You may be denied entry or not allowed to visit if contraband is detected (even on an infant or child)
• ✓ The incident may be reported to local law enforcement
• ✓ You may be removed from Department property
• ✓ Your future visiting privileges may be suspended or terminated

1. Clear out your vehicle and bags before you leave home - Vehicle contents can be searched, including purses, coats, diaper bags, loose clothing, and children’s toys.
2. Do a quick “kid check” too - A pat search may be conducted on everyone, including children, and if contraband is detected on any visitor (including an infant or child), visiting won’t be allowed.
3. Expect basic physical screening - Be ready for hair to be visually inspected (you may be asked to shake it out or run fingers/comb/pick through it) and for a mouth check.
4. Plan for sensitive detection tools - Mechanical drug detection devices (and canine detection) may be used, and devices can detect very small traces.
5. If you’re on probation, bring what you need - You must have approval from your Probation or Parole Officer and present a travel permit signed by that officer to visit any NMCD facility.
6. Don’t bring alcohol or controlled substances - at all - They’re prohibited on Department property, and violations can lead to removal, law enforcement reporting, and suspension or termination of visiting privileges.