Warden seeks to boost employee number

April 29--The warden of the Lincoln County Detention Center is looking for a few good men and women who don't mind spending their hours tending a flock of inmates charged with crimes ranging from misdemeanors to murder.

The work can be exciting and there is a chance for advancement in the Emerald Companies' network that manages the jail in Carrizozo for the county.

"In the summer, they stay cool in the building and in the winter, they are warm and don't get wet," Warden Arthur Anderson said Monday. "Starting pay is $10.10 an hour. We pay a $25 gas incentive for travel over 40 miles and a $500 sign-on bonus. Insurance is available and after a year, a 401K (deferred pay retirement plan).

"We house minimum, medium and maximum security prisoners charged with anything from a DWI up to murder."

The jail roster fluctuates from 130 to the maximum 144 inmates per day, he said.

An applicant must have a high school diploma, a New Mexico driver's license, a social security number and a resume. While law enforcement background would be a plus, it is not required unless the applicant is applying for an administrative position, Anderson said. An applicant cannot have a felony criminal record. Even a misdemeanor conviction could be a deal-breaker, but might be allowed, depending on the charge and other factors, he said. Physical condition is not a disqualification point.

The normal schedule is two days on, two days off, then three-days on and three-days off, but may vary because the detention center currently is short-staffed, he said. The 12-hour shifts run from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Apply by going to the emeraldcompanies.com website and fill out an application on-line. Once submitted, the application automatically goes to the warden. If he's interested, the applicant will be contacted to set up an interview.

Good behavior

At their meeting Friday, Lincoln County commissioners adopted a resolution to establish rules for the accrual for deduction of sentencing time for "good behavior and industry." The resolution was intended to give guidance to detention center staff and inmates about awarding good time to prisoners, other than for violation of probation when probation was imposed connected to one or more felony convictions. A presiding judge also must agree that the inmate is eligible. The person must have completed any applicable statutory minimum sentence or judicially imposed term of ineligible time.

County Attorney Alan Morel said he looked at examples of rules from two or three other counties and "made it a simple as possible," with a worksheet that can be filled out and tabulated. He also had officials with the detention center and the sheriff's office review the proposed rules.

Detention center staff ultimately will determine if an inmate has complied and is eligible for good time, he said.

Paid work release time does not count toward good time, because it is not volunteering for community service, Morel said.

Commissioner Kathryn Minter asked Morel to check on why Bible study is not eligible as good time under community outreach.

Commissioner Dallas Draper asked what would occur if someone was released early and then committed another violation. Morel said the new charge would be handled separately and go to court in front of a judge, who would have the prerogative to restrict good time eligibility under a new conviction sentence. "I don't know whether it would go back to the original sentence," he added.

Minter asked if adopting the policy helps the Emerald in securing accreditation through the American Accreditation Association.

"I do believe this is part of an ACA accreditation policy," Morel said. "I think all jails are required to have a good time policy, We're statutorily required based on having an independently contractor running our jail. If our sheriff ran it, he would be the one approving or disapproving good time, but since he's not in the jail, that would be impossible, There is a statute that does require us to have this policy."

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