Doa Ana County hires staff to reopen juvenile detention center
The Doa Ana County Juvenile Detention Center is preparing to house teens once again, after shutting its doors one year ago.
The facility shut down last year because there was a staffing issue in both the juvenile and adult facility, and teens were moved into the east wing of the adult facility.
On Thursday, Jail Administrator Chris Barela said it cost the county $75,000 to modify the east wing of the adult facility during their stay.
He said during the last year, the county has done heavy recruiting in different states. This has increased their staff in the juvenile center from 12 to 28 officers. He says they’ve also increased the pay for current and new officers.
The 21,000 square foot facility can hold up to 50 teens. The county says it costs a little more than $1 million a year to maintain.
