Important facility and contact numbers for New Mexico jails and detention centers
Start by calling the facility directly. The front desk can confirm whether someone is in custody, explain the current visitation process, and tell you which outside services (phone, video, money) that facility uses. If you need to post bond, don't guess at the amount or payment rules. Ask the facility's records staff for the exact dollar amount and what forms of payment they accept.
- ✓ Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC), Albuquerque: (505) 839-8700 (general phone)
- ✓ San Juan County Adult Detention Center (Jail): (505) 566-4500
- ✓ Doña Ana County Detention Center: Inmate Phone Service 1-877-650-4249; Inmate Money Service 575-647-7653
- ✓ Lea County Correctional Facility: Inmate Advocate Moriama Valeriano (575) 392-4055
- ✓ Valencia County Detention Center: Records Department 505-565-8900 ext. 1 (to confirm bond amount and money order requirements)
Common Questions
Q
What is the easiest way to add money to an inmate's account if I do not want to use a website?
Some facilities allow you to pay by phone or in person, so you are not forced to use a website. For example, Valencia County states you can add money by telephone through TechFriends at 1-870-627-5476, and some jails also accept cash or money orders deposited at the facility during business hours. If you are paying a bond in Valencia County, they accept only money orders for bonding and recommend confirming the exact bond amount with their Records Department at 505-565-8900 ext. 1.
Q
Who should I call if I need help with an inmate's release, a complaint, or an advocate?
Start with the facility where your loved one is housed, and ask for the right office for release questions or complaints (for example, Bernalillo County MDC lists a main phone number and information desk hours). If you need an advocate, NMCD publishes facility-level inmate advocates, for example Lea County Correctional Facility lists an inmate advocate (Moriama Valeriano) with a phone number. Some county detention centers also list separate service numbers for inmate phone and inmate money questions (for example, Doña Ana County lists both).
Q
Will an inmate still receive physical mail now that NMCD uses tablets?
In NMCD facilities using the new system, NMCD states Smart Communications tablets replace physical mail by digitally uploading mail to inmate tablets. Other facilities can have different setups and addresses, including third-party digital mail centers, so always verify the current mail instructions for the specific jail or prison.
Q
What items are commonly prohibited at facility lobbies or during visits?
Some facilities prohibit items like food, beverages, and cell phones in the lobby, and they may ban smoking anywhere on facility grounds. You can save yourself a lot of stress by leaving these items secured in your vehicle before you enter.
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