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 Compliance Coordinator is responsible for conducting site visits to law enforcement to ensure statutory compliance with 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 & Families Department (CYFD) is committed to ensuring compliance with State Detention Standards in juvenile detention centers (JDCs) owned and operated by New Mexico counties. Pursuant to the requirements set forth in the New Mexico Administrative Code (8.14.14 NMAC), CYFD conducts annual inspections of secure JDCs to ensure that they are operating following the established standards that govern the maintenance and operation of all JDCs including site, design, construction, equipment, care, programming, education, staffing, and medical and behavioral health care. In certain circumstances, more frequent inspections may be conducted to ensure compliance. Our department remains committed to upholding the highest standards of care for these vulnerable young individuals.

The Juvenile Detention Center Inspection Process:

The CYFD Compliance Coordinator contacts the Juvenile Detention Center (JDC) and provides the NMAC Juvenile Detention Standards Documents for the Inspection List, dates and times for onsite inspection, and 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 the physical plant inspection. During this time any concerns, questions, or pressing matters are discussed, as necessary. The CYFD Compliance Coordinator completes the review of staff and client records.

The CYFD Compliance Coordinator provides an exit briefing with JDC leadership, the JPO Chief, and the Special Programs Manager. Reports are provided to JDC leadership with any corrective actions needed. JDC responds and provides documentation on corrective action solutions to address deficiencies. Reports are reviewed by the JJS Deputy Director of Field Services and the CYFD Cabinet Secretary. The CYFD Cabinet Secretary signs the report and certification; signed documents are provided to the JDC. 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

Juvenile Detention Center Links

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/