Community custody under scrutiny
By Dan McKay, Journal Staff Writer
Albuquerque Journal
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Bernalillo County Commissioner Alan Armijo late Tuesday made a public apology about the jail’s house arrest program.
But he and other county officials also praised the practice of releasing inmates into “community custody,” saying it helps inmates get back on their feet and saves money.
The program has come under scrutiny in recent weeks after the Journal reported that a man accused in the killing of an elderly Korean couple was supposed to be on the county’s house arrest program at the time. Instead, he had received “good time” credit and was released early.
In another case, a man in the community custody program was charged with rape.
Speaking generally, Armijo said, “we apologize to those families. We couldn’t foresee” what would happen.
Jail officials said less than 1 percent of those on community custody commit a new crime while in the program.
Four “graduates” of CCP addressed county commissioners Tuesday to say how much it had helped them get their lives together. Jail “trackers” gave them individual attention when they joined the program, the participants said.
Chris Garcia, a 29-yearold car salesman, said drug problems led him in and out of jail during the course of 12 years.
The community custody program forced him to get a job and pass drug tests.
“I never had any boundaries that held me accountable when I was out of jail,” Garcia said of his previous life. The program “gave me another chance.”
Copyright 2008 Albuquerque Journal