{"id":29555,"date":"2024-01-26T00:28:41","date_gmt":"2024-01-26T00:28:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.durangoherald.com\/tj\/i-dont-feel-safe-at-this-jail\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T06:58:51","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T06:58:51","slug":"i-dont-feel-safe-at-this-jail","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.durangoherald.com\/tj\/i-dont-feel-safe-at-this-jail\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018I don\u2019t feel safe at this jail\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"After detainee\u2019s complaint Tri-City Record finds staff shortage and risks at San Juan Detention Center\n

\"A
A San Juan County Detention Center guard oversee the facility through surveillance videos and through the windows.<\/span>Brad Ryan<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

A Farmington man facing multiple felony charges including second-degree murder and battery on a peace officer made claims against the San Juan County Detention Center while appearing in court.<\/p>\n

Brandon Curley, 31, was in front of District Judge Daylene Marsh on Jan. 16, when he stated, \u201cI don\u2019t feel safe at this jail.\u201d<\/p>\n

Curley said he was suffering from \u201canxiety.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t sleep,\u201d Curley said, adding that he felt intimidated.<\/p>\n

Marsh tried to stop Curley, telling him that his attorney, Mary Legrand Miller, would come to the detention center to talk to him.<\/p>\n

At which time, Curley stated that he had \u201cbeen requesting a new lawyer.\u201d<\/p>\n

Legrand Miller said she was entering her appearance for the first time and would go see him at the detention center.<\/p>\n

There are about 450 \u201cdetainees\u201d in the San Juan County Detention Center on any given day. The facility would be fully staffed at 87 employees but now has 58 employees.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe San Juan County Adult Detention Center has a roughly 30% vacancy rate, which is in line with national trends,\u201d said San Juan County spokesman Devin Neeley. \u201cWe anticipate, with no changes, to be fully staffed in about four weeks. We have enough recruits starting to close that gap.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"A
A San Juan County Detention Center guard checks in a detainee. Brad Ryan\/Special to Tri City Record<\/span>Brad Ryan<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Sarah Castillo has been at the center for more than two years. She said she loves her job.<\/p>\n

\u201cI do it to try and make a difference. I care about these detainees; you know, they are human beings, they are real people. They just, you know, had a wrong choice, wrong time, wrong place, you know, whatever.\u201d<\/p>\n

The U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics states the need for correctional officers is expected to decline by 7% over the next 10 years, but there are still 30,900 openings each year for correctional officers and bailiffs.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire,\u201d according to the bureau. \u201cThe median annual wage for correctional officers and jailers was $49,610 in May 2022.\u201d<\/p>\n

The San Juan County Detention Center has job openings for juvenile and adult detention officers, with the juvenile facility officers being paid $18.49 per hour, and the adult facility officers being paid $18.66 per hour.<\/p>\n

The job description states there is a \u201cpotential for high stress levels and exposure to hostile situations; some nonstandard work hours are required.\u201d<\/p>\n

It also states that \u201cemployees may be subject to physical altercations with detainees which may require restraining and\/or physically relocating inmates.\u201d<\/p>\n

These are situations that can lead to high turnover in detention facilities, where according to the CDC there is \u201can inherent risk for on-the-job injuries and illnesses. Research shows that corrections workers have high rates of injuries and illnesses, stress, burnout, and mental health-related consequences.\u201d<\/p>\n

San Juan County Detention Center officers \u201care assaulted regularly,\u201d according to Neely, who said the assaults happened at \u201ca rate of one to two incidents per week.\u201d<\/p>\n

Assaults are reported to the San Juan County Sheriff\u2019s Office and can result in new charges.<\/p>\n

\"Brandon
Brandon Curley, 31, a detainee at the San Juan County Detention Center, said in court that he does not \u201cfeel safe\u201d in the facility. He is accused of battery guards at the facility. Courtesy photo<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Curley was charged with aggravated battery upon a peace office and battery upon a peace officer in connection to a Jan. 29, 2023, attack reportedly perpetrated by \u201cseven detainees\u201d on four officers.<\/p>\n

In the attack, one officer was disarmed of his Taser, and the detainee used it \u201cby deploying it into (the officer\u2019s) mid-back area.\u201d One officer needed \u201cmedical attention due to his face starting to change colors,\u201d and \u201ctwo officers had received medical attention at the jail,\u201d according to the statement of probable cause.<\/p>\n

Another officers suffered \u201cobvious injuries to his face and head,\u201d court records state.<\/p>\n

Curley reportedly started the entire altercation. He was being removed from his pod and while the officer was escorting him, he allegedly \u201cstarted hitting\u201d the officer in the face. This reportedly led to the other \u201cdetainees jumping into the altercation and starting to attack all of them,\u201d according to the statement of probable cause.<\/p>\n

A second incident of battery on a peace officer reportedly happened July 21, 2023, when the officer attempted have Curley mop or sweep his cell before closing it for the night. When the officer asked Curley to do this, the detainee reportedly \u201cgot off his bed and started to yell\u201d at the officer, according to statement of probable cause.<\/p>\n

Curley allegedly had a \u201cbladed stance, clenched his fists and continued to yell at him,\u201d court records state.<\/p>\n

The officer warned Curley he would \u201close his privileges for disrespecting him,\u201d at which time, Curley reportedly \u201cpunched\u201d the officer \u201con the left side of his chin,\u201d court records state.<\/p>\n

There was a video captured of the incident. \u201cThe vast majority of activities in the SJCADC are under constant video surveillance and that video is used in investigations,\u201d Neely said.<\/p>\n

Curley is being held in the San Juan County Detention Center for reportedly stabbing and killing Roland Joe on Feb. 26, 2022, at a home in the 2300 block of Loon Street in Farmington.<\/p>\n

Curley\u2019s sister Jerilyn Tallman was in a relationship with Joe, and the two had been arguing on the night in question. Tallman reportedly told police that she \u201cnotified her brother,\u201d of the argument and \u201cthe stabbing was the result of an altercation between Brandon (Curley) and Roland,\u201d according to court records.<\/p>\n

Tallman\u2019s children \u2013 a 15-year-old and a 13-year-old \u2013 reportedly told police they saw Curley \u201cretrieve the knife from the kitchen,\u201d and then they saw Curley \u201cstab Roland in the back one time with the knife,\u201d court records state.<\/p>\n

Curley was charged with second-degree murder.<\/p>\n

A jury trial is set in February for the detention center batteries, while a jury trial is set in August for the homicide charge.<\/p>\n

While Curley awaits his trials, he told the judge he did not want to remain at the San Juan County Detention Center.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe officer involved intimidated me,\u201d Curley said in court, adding \u201call of my grievances and requests are being denied. \u2026 May I please request to be moved to a different jail?\u201d<\/p>\n

\"A
A detainee receives property from outside of the facility from a San Juan County Detention Center guard.<\/span>Brad Ryan<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

\u201cAny and all complaints or grievances filed are taken very seriously, each is investigated thoroughly by supervisory staff,\u201d Neely said, adding that there is one administrator Daniel Webb.<\/p>\n

\u201cEach complaint or grievance is handled on a case-by-case basis, but instances of a detainee being moved to another detention center are exceedingly rare,\u201d Neely said, adding staff is trained to follow \u201cprocedures and measures to protect staff and detainees while protecting detainees\u2019 civil rights.\u201d<\/p>\n

He stated that \u201cstaff undergoes rigorous training upon hire which includes safety, self-defense, detainee control measures, and detainee safety and care. That training is ongoing during a staff member\u2019s employment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lt. Gary Coleman has been with the detention center for 8 years. He said he knows he is making a difference in the lives of detainees.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile they are here they are part of the community, and I look out for them as part of the community,\u201d Coleman said. \u201cI\u2019d rather have someone come up to me and say thanks for showing me respect and not knocking me down when I\u2019m at my lowest, when I see them outside.\u201d<\/p>\n

Neely added the San Juan County Detention Center is one of 10 in the state of New Mexico accredited by the Adult Detention Professional Standards Council, which has a \u201cmission is to enhance the professionalism, uniformity, and consistency in the operation of detention facilities,\u201d with more than \u201c200 standards that must be followed with policy, procedure, and documentation including observed practices.\u201d<\/p>\n

This \"Contraband Corner\" is in the San Juan County Detention Center training area for new and current employees.
This \"Contraband Corner\" is in the San Juan County Detention Center training area for new and current employees.<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

After detainee\u2019s complaint Tri-City Record finds staff shortage and risks at San Juan Detention Center<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":27293,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[28],"naviga_topic":[],"class_list":["post-29555","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-headlines"],"acf":[],"author_name":"Website Administrator","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29555","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29555"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29555\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":80783,"href":"https:\/\/www.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29555\/revisions\/80783"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27293"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29555"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29555"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29555"},{"taxonomy":"naviga_topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/naviga_topic?post=29555"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}