Colfax County received official notification August 1, 2024, that the Vigil-Maldonado Detention Center (VMDC) has received accreditation by the New Mexico Adult Detention Professional Standards Council.
Warden Regina Slade received the notification after a two-year process in which all aspects of the operation were tested including personnel, medical, security and food service. In July of 2022, Slade was promoted to Warden and Colfax County Manager Monte Gore mandated that the new warden would then work to get the jail accredited. The Vigil-Maldonado Detention Center is the first smaller jail to achieve full accreditation with the New Mexico Adult Detention Professional Standards Council.
Among the benefits of being accredited is an increase from 2 to $5 million in insurance coverage covered by the NM Counties group.
The VMDC has a capacity of 100 and currently is housing 59 detainees and the County has several agreements with area counties including Union, San Miguel and Taos to house inmates. VMDC currently employs 22 including its own medical staff and on-premise food preperation for both personnel and inmates.
Warden Slade said this was a difficult process, however she has a sense of accomplishment and acknowledged all of the hard work put in by the current staff, previous Wardens, and Colfax County Leadership and the County Attorney for their hard work and invaluable help in moving things forward to get the facility accredited.
Regina Slade – Warden at Vigil Maldonado Detention Center
