State and Federal Compliance

The purpose of the Children, Youth and Family Department’s compliance monitoring efforts are to enhance/ maintain the state’s ability to adequately monitor detention facilities, jails, and other facilities to assure compliance with the state and federal deinstitutionalization of status offenders, sight and sound separation, and juvenile jail removal requirements as set forth in New Mexico statute and the federal Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act.

Compliance monitoring priorities for the Special Programs Unit include continued compliance monitoring and reviewing legislation, regulations and standards for compliance monitoring implications.

Federal Requirements Compliance Monitoring

CYFD’s Special Programs Unit contracts with a compliance monitor who conducts site visits to law enforcement to ensure statutory compliance to OJJDP core requirements of sight and sound separation of adults and juveniles, removal of juveniles from adult jails and lockups, and deinstitutionalization of status offenders.

Juvenile Detention Compliance Certification

The Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) is mandated by the New Mexico Administrative Code to inspect juvenile detention facilities for the purpose of certification. All secure juvenile detention facilities must comply with State Detention Standards that govern the maintenance and operation of all juvenile detention centers including standards for the site, design, construction, equipment, care, programming, education, staffing, and medical and behavioral health care. Compliance is determined during annual inspections or more frequently when warranted.

This web page was developed to provide information and resources to those working in secure detention facilities. CYFD partners with administrators from New Mexico counties to maintain safe and healthy conditions of confinement, and quality provision of services for juveniles in detention centers.

The information provided is designed to make information immediately accessible to assist Juvenile Detention Center personnel in daily responsibilities specific to the maintaining and monitoring compliance with the State Detention Standards.

The Juvenile Detention Center Inspection Process:

The CYFD Compliance Coordinator contacts the Juvenile Detention Center (JDC) and provides:

1. NMAC Juvenile Detention Standards Documents for Inspection List,
2. dates and times for onsite inspection, and
3. detailed Agenda (as the inspection date grows closer).

JDCs submit documentation to the CYFD Compliance Coordinator for review.

Once onsite for inspection, the CYFD Compliance Coordinator holds an opening briefing with JDC leadership to review the agenda and discuss logistics of the physical plant inspection. During this time any concerns, questions or pressing matters are discussed, as necessary.

The CYFD Compliance Coordinator completes the Physical Plant Inspection. The CYFD Compliance Coordinator completes the review of staff and client records.

The CYFD Compliance Coordinator provides an exit briefing with JDC leadership, JPO Chief and Supervisor, and Special Programs Manager.

Reports are provided to JDC leadership with any corrective actions needed. JDC responds to corrective actions with actions and timelines to address needed corrective actions. Reports are signed off by and provided by JJS Deputy Director of Field Services and CYFD Cabinet Secretary. Certifications are provided to sites in compliance status. Suspension or revocation of certification is completed by formal written notice. An appeals process is in place for Juvenile Detention Centers when their certification is suspended or revoked.

Current certification status for each Juvenile Detention Center and related dates

NM SARA Log-In Page

Screening, Admissions & Releases Application (SARA) is an internet based system used by Juvenile Probation Officers, Juvenile Detention Centers and CYFD to track and monitor juvenile detention admissions and releases. If law enforcement is seeking detention for a youth who is being referred for a delinquent offense, a Risk Assessment Instrument (RAI) is used to determine if secure detention is appropriate. If the RAI is recommending secure detention, Juvenile Detention Centers admit the juvenile into their facility. SARA tracks how many days the juvenile is held in secure detention.

For authorized users only, click to login into SARA: https://www.newmexicosara.com/

Juvenile Detention Center Links