Why Your Loved One Can't Receive Incoming Calls at Torrance County Detention — What Families Should Know

At Torrance County Detention, phone contact is outgoing-only. Your loved one can place calls out, but you can't call the facility and be connected to them. If you try calling and ask to speak with a detainee, staff won't patch you through - incoming calls to detainees simply aren't allowed.

When something urgent comes up, there's a specific process to get a message through. Call (505) 384-2711 and leave a message with the detainee's full name and alien registration number (A-number), plus your name and a phone number where you can be reached. Staff will pass your message along.

• ✓ Detainee’s full name
• ✓ Detainee’s alien registration number (A-number)
• ✓ Your name
• ✓ Your call-back phone number

For routine questions or general information about someone housed at Torrance County Detention, call (505) 452-4821 between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. Have the detainee's biographical details ready - staff may need that information to locate the right person, especially if the name is common or has multiple spellings.

• ✓ First, last, and hyphenated names
• ✓ Any known aliases
• ✓ Date of birth
• ✓ Country of birth

The facility's public information covers how to reach staff for messages - not call pricing or providers. In most detention settings, the person in custody places outgoing calls, and families either accept charges or fund an account depending on how the phone system works. If your loved one is trying to get a direct or free call for a qualifying purpose, expect processing to take time. Plan ahead if there's a deadline coming up.

Phone calls from detention are often monitored or recorded - one reason facilities don't allow incoming calls and keep communication structured. The main exception is legal and certain official communications. Calls with an attorney and other protected contacts are typically handled differently to preserve confidentiality, unless a court order allows monitoring. When monitoring practices are in place, the facility is usually required to post notices so detainees know what to expect.

1. Make sure your loved one has your correct number - since calls are outgoing-only, they can only reach the numbers they know and can dial.
2. Ask what calling setup they’re using - some phone systems require the receiving side to accept charges or have funds available; your loved one can tell you what they’re running into.
3. Use the urgent-message line only for urgent situations - call (505) 384-2711 and leave the detainee’s full name, A-number, and your call-back information so staff can pass it along.
4. Use the information line for general questions - call (505) 452-4821 between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m., and be ready with biographical details (names, aliases, date of birth, country of birth) so staff can identify the right person.

A few details families often need aren't in the facility's posted phone guidance. Before you commit to a plan - especially if money or deadlines are involved - verify current call rates and how billing works, whether tablets or video visits are available, and whether phone access has hours or restrictions beyond the general information line's 7 a.m.–3 p.m. window.

• ✓ What does it cost for my loved one to call me, and how is it billed?
• ✓ Do I need to set up an account to receive calls?
• ✓ Are there specific times or limits for phone access by housing unit?
• ✓ Is there a separate process for attorney/legal calls?
• ✓ Are tablets, messaging, or video visitation available here?