LOCATION
The current Police Department Detention Center was occupied on January 13, 2010.
The new detention center is a modern facility that was designed for the safety and well being of both inmates and detention officers. The movement and management of inmates takes place in a master control center area where detention officers conduct round the clock video, audio and visual monitoring of inmates and all jail activities through state of the art electronic security access systems. The master control center officers are also responsible for monitoring all of the internal and external security systems for the detention center, the police station, and the new court complex.
Three nutritious meals are prepared daily in the detention center, lowering meal cost by approximately 50% as compared to previous food service contract rates.
The Los Alamos Police Department Detention Center manages the intake, care, containment, transportation, and release of inmates. In 2009, a total of 505 people were booked into the detention center with charges varying from petty misdemeanors to violent felonies.
The detention center is staffed by 13 full time detentions officers. .
Inmates within the detention facility are able to participate in a variety of different inmate programs. These programs are conducted by volunteers from within the community. New programs and volunteers are welcome for consideration.
The Detention Facility currently has the following inmate programs:
- Alcoholics Anonymous
- Anger Management
- Jail-Based Drug Rehabilitation
- Christian Church Services
- Correspondence Bible Studies
- GED Programs and tutoring
Inmates in the detention facility are offered a limited amount of privileges as a method to promote good behavior during their incarceration. Inmates violating the rules of the detention facility may be subject to a loss of some or all of their privileges and may be subject to further disciplinary actions.
These privileges include…
- Watching T.V in the Dayroom
- Outdoor recreation with other inmates
- Ability to keep personal items in their cell
- Telephone usage for personal calls
- Commissary purchases
We encourage and welcome visits from family and friends of individuals incarcerated in the detention facility. Weekday visiting hours are on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Appointments have to be made by 5:00 pm on the day of the visit.
Weekend appointments need to be made by 5:00 pm on the Thursday preceding the weekend. Appointments may be made by calling the detention facility at 505-662-8235. Visitors will be logged in and out by a detention officer.
The following rules apply for visitors of inmates in the Detention Facility.
- All visitors must be 18 years of age or accomplished by a parent of legal guardian, this includes children visiting parents who are incarcerated.
- All visitors will be required to show some type of picture identification.
- Anyone who is intoxicated will not be allowed to visit.
- Inmates retain the right to refuse visits.
- Visiting hours may be cancelled at any time for appropriate reasons.
- Visitors are allowed to bring only pre-approved items to inmates.
- Detention officers may immediately end a visit if arguing or disruptive behavior occurs on the part of the inmate or visitor.
- Contact visits are not allowed unless ordered by the Courts.
- Any special visits will be arranged through the Detention Supervisor.
- Anyone who is on probation/parole will not be allowed to visit.
- Anyone who has been incarcerated at the facility within the past six months will not be allowed to visit.
LAPD detention staff takes fingerprints for those persons requesting them for employment or other purposes. Most people have two sets of prints taken.Make sure you bring:
- Official fingerprint cards from the agency/organization requesting your prints. We cannot use LAPD cards for this purpose, because the cards will come back to the Department, rather than to the agency/organization requesting your prints.
- Cash, check, or money order for $5.00 per card, payable to Los Alamos County.
Detention staff will issue you a cash receipt for your fingerprints. If the prints are illegible for any reason, LAPD will re-do the fingerprints provided you have your receipt.
Please take note of the following change effective February 1, 2011
In order to better serve those needing fingerprint cards completed, the Los Alamos Police Department is implementing a change in the fingerprinting procedure. Instead of showing up at the station and waiting for the next available officer, those needing completed fingerprint cards should report to the Police Station at the following times:
- Wednesdays from 1:00 to 3:00pm
- Fridays from 1:00 to 3:00pm
- Saturdays from 9:00 to 11:00am
We anticipate this will result in shorter wait times for those needing this service and will ensure we will have the appropriate staffing on hand to assist those needing their fingerprints taken. There is no need to schedule a visit during these times. However, we understand that these hours may not work for everyone's schedule. Therefore, anyone that cannot attend one of the above listed time can call the Detention Control Room at 505-662-8235 to schedule a fingerprinting session.