What to Expect About Housing and Capacity at Doña Ana County Detention Center

Doña Ana County operates two detention facilities - one for adults, one for juveniles. This matters for families because the housing setup, capacity, and supervision style differ significantly between them.

The adult facility holds up to 846 detainees. That's a large jail with multiple housing areas, not a small single-unit lockup.

The juvenile facility is much smaller - just 50 beds. If your loved one is housed there, everything is organized around that tighter footprint.

The adult facility wasn't always this size. It opened in 1995 with 562 beds, then expanded in 2000 with an additional housing unit that brought capacity to 846.

The adult facility has seven secure housing units. When you hear a unit name or number during a phone call, it's referring to one of these areas.

Most adult inmates share a cell with at least one other person. That means less personal space and privacy than families often expect - and it shapes everything from sleep schedules to phone-call routines.

The juvenile facility is divided into five units, each designed to house ten youth. Smaller groups mean more structure.

Four of those units share the same layout: a dayroom, eight single-person cells, and one two-person cell. So while each unit holds ten youth, most have their own cell - only one cell is set up for double occupancy.

The fifth unit is different. It has ten single-person cells, a dayroom, and a small outdoor recreation area. This unit can serve as a maximum-security or special-management space when needed.

Supervision in the juvenile units is direct - detention officers are stationed inside the dayrooms, not watching from a control booth. They observe and interact with youth throughout daily activities.

For families with someone on the adult side, the main takeaway is this: shared cells are the norm. Your loved one will likely have a cellmate, which means coordinating basics like sleep, quiet time, and personal space with someone else.

If your loved one is in the juvenile facility, expect close and constant staff presence. Officers stationed in the dayrooms directly supervise youth throughout the day, so behavior is closely monitored and the schedule feels more structured.

• ✓ Ask the facility directly which side (adult or juvenile) your loved one is housed in and whether they’re in a standard unit or a special-management setting.
• ✓ If you need documentation, remember that under New Mexico’s Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA), anyone has the right to inspect Doña Ana County public records.
• ✓ If you choose to use IPRA, put your request in writing so the act’s procedures apply.