Rory McClannahan
Mountain View Telegraph
ESTANCIA, N.M. — The Estancia Valley Citizen newspaper blazed the headline in January 1990 summed it up perfectly. “You Asked for it, Estancia - You Got It.”
The “it” was the Torrance County Detention Facility to be built by the Corrections Corporation of America in Estancia. An aggressive 10 month construction schedule then allowed the prison to open by the end of the year.
Twenty years later, the prison, and CCA are still in Estancia. The company held a 20th anniversary celebration in the prison’s gymnasium Oct. 28. None of the prison’s nearly 900 inmates were invited - they were in lockdown as more than 100 visitors were escorted through the prison to the gym and back - but three of the facility’s wardens were there.
The prison’s current warden, Tim Morgan, was joined by Robert Ezell, whom Morgan replaced about two months ago, and Dan Moriarty, who was warden when the prison opened in 1990.
“It’s always a pleasure to see the people who have led this facility, their commitment to excellence is the reason this facility is what it is,” Morgan said.
After a quick couple of speeches, the ceremony picked up with an enchilada lunch, door prizes and the burying of a time capsule.
Melody Turner, a managing director for CCA, said her company has always taken strides to be a good community partner in the towns where its 11 facilities are located, and Estancia is no exception.
“From our participation in the chambers of commerce, to Rotary Club to buying animals during 4-H auctions, it is CCA’s goal to be a great partner with Torrance County,” Turner said.
While everything seems rosy now, that wasn’t the case when the a prison was being proposed for the Estancia Valley. The first location CCA wanted was between Moriarty and Edgewood, just north of Interstate 40, according to news accounts at the time. But there was strong opposition to that location due to its proximity to Mountainview Elementary School. The next proposal was in McIntosh, but residents there opposed it, as well.
The whole time, the county seat was begging CCA to come to town, but officials claimed Estancia was too far away from Albuquerque. In early 1990, though, those officials changed their minds.
Through the years, the prison has held about 100,000 inmates in custody through several agencies, including the U.S. Marshals Service, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the state of New Mexico and a host of others. The prison also serves as the Torrance County jail.
Rep. Rhonda King, D-Stanley, said the prison is an important economic engine for the Estancia Valley.
“The economic impact of this prison has been great,” King said. “It provides jobs and tax revenue. We are happy that CCA is a partner with Torrance County.” Torrance County
About the Detention Center
Opened: 1990
Facility type: Male and female; multisecurity levels
Capacity: 910 beds; averages about 800 inmates
Employees: 203
Payroll: $7.5 million annually
Copyright 2010 Albuquerque Journal