Jail suspends visitation, courthouses remain open to public
Officials with the San Miguel County Detention Center have suspended in-person visitation amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Warden Matt Elwell told the Optic the suspension of visitations will last at least three weeks, and that officials will review the policy at that point.
“We’ve canceled our public visitation, and (are preventing) our volunteers from entering the facility,” Elwell said. “That’s twofold. One, that’s to stop any introduction of the virus, and if we had (the coronavirus) inside, to prevent them from taking it back to the community.”
Elwell called the measure temporary and said SMCDC was following the lead of other government agencies.
For now, the only way for people to communicate with friends or family members incarcerated at SMCDC is by telephone or mail. Inmates will still be allowed to meet with their lawyers in person though.
New Mexico’s court system is also taking precautions, but court buildings are still open to the public. According to a March 13 press release, New Mexico Courts have implemented measures at appellate, district, magistrate and metropolitan courts “to minimize public health risks from coronavirus.”
Robert Duran, the court executive officer for the Fourth Judicial District, told the Optic that in all five court locations across San Miguel, Mora and Guadalupe counties, regular cleanings are taking place. Areas where people often gather — like lobbies, break room areas and restrooms — are being cleaned frequently.
“We are taking the necessary precautions to prevent the spread of any type of virus,” Duran said. “We want to make sure that all citizens in the state of New Mexico, no matter what courthouse they’re visiting, feel safe coming into the courthouse.”
Courts across the state are limiting the number of people summoned to jury duty to 25 or fewer at a time. According to Duran, if a larger jury pool is needed, the court will bring 25 potential jurors in at one time. Jurors who are ill will be immediately released.
All criminal proceedings will continue, but the court might limit the number of inmates transported from jails to courthouses for hearings. According to Elwell, when it comes to transporting inmates to court, SMCDC will defer to decisions made by the courts. However, he said the jail has the capability to allow inmates to attend court hearings via telephone or video conferencing.
Civil non-jury trials will proceed as scheduled, unless rescheduled by a judge. However, most civil jury trials that have not yet begun will be postponed.
Duran said that out-of-state travel for judicial employees is on hold, but employees are still allowed to travel within the state, and that staff members are instructed to stay home if they are feeling ill or show any symptoms of the flu or coronavirus.
Elwell said he has discussed precautions to prevent the spread of coronavirus with staff at SMCDC, but in the event of an outbreak among jail staff, provisions are in place to staff the jail.
“We have backup staffing measures in place to insure that we still protect the public and keep the inmates safe and secured,” Elwell said.
In the event of an outbreak among inmates, Elwell said infected inmates or those with presumptive cases of coronavirus would be quarantined within the jail facility, unless an inmate required hospitalization for treatment.
“I’d like the public to know that we’re taking every precaution to keep their loved ones who are incarcerated with us safe,” Elwell said.
