Bernalillo County Jail Details & Overview

If you or a loved one are an inmate in the Bernalillo County Jail, learning how the jail operates and its rules is in your best interest. The Bernalillo County Jail is called the Metropolitan Detention Center. 

Whether you need to visit the jail to deliver money, pay a bond, or visit an inmate, knowing what to expect will make your visit less stressful. 

About Bernalillo County Jail

The Bernalillo County Jail is a massive 500,000-square-foot building that opened in 2002. This jail sits on 155 acres. When the jail first opened, it had a bed capacity of 2,048. In December of 2006, 188 beds were added, bringing the capacity up to 2,236. Today, the jail holds 1,950 inmates because of changes from double occupancy to single occupancy cells.

The Bernalillo County Jail houses both male and female inmates. This county jail has five units where inmates are housed. At present, the jail employs 551 Bernalillo County employees. Approximately 300 of these employees are correctional officers, and there are 13 officer cadets. 

The average daily inmate population is around 1,200. Each housing unit in the jail features either 128 or 256 cells. 

Inmate Services Provided by Bernalillo County Jail

The Bernalillo County Jail provides a range of inmate services offered by detention center staff members, community volunteers, and outside contractors and vendors. The following are some of the inmate services available at this jail. 

Health Services

• Full-time on-site health clinics 
• Psychotherapeutic groups to meet mental health needs  
• Various harm reduction classes 

Educational Services

Bernalillo County Jail inmates are encouraged to pursue an education while in jail. The following are some of the educational services available to inmates.

• Life Skills Counseling Program
• Gordon Bernell Charter High School Diploma Program
• General Library
• Law Library

Addiction Treatment Services

The Bernalillo County Jail offers addiction treatment services for its inmates, including the following:

• Alcoholics Anonymous
• Narcotics Anonymous
• DWI/Addictions Treatment Program Unit
• Methadone Induction
• Methadone Maintenance

Other Inmate Services

• Childcare services for visiting parents
• Screening services for visiting families
• The Alma de Amistad Partnership for Women
• Veteran services
• Recreation services for all units
• Chaplains
• Access to all religious services

Bernalillo County Jail Contact Information

The Bernalillo County Jail phone number is (505) 839-8700. The detention center is located at the following address:

100 Deputy Dean Miera Drive SW

Albuquerque, NM 87151

Administrative office hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can reach the Information Desk between 8 a.m. – 8 p.m, and you may email the administration with any questions at [email protected]. 

Bernalillo County Jail Inmate Information

Bernalillo County operates a website that allows you to search for inmates by inputting their full name, arrest date, and inmate ID number in Bernalillo County jail inmate search online. You can also search for released inmates here.

This information can be accessed 24/7. Should you have any difficulty accessing the information, you can contact the administration at (505) 839-8700. 

You can also view jail mugshots in Bernalillo County.

Sending Mail to a Bernalillo County Jail Inmate

You can send mail to a Bernalillo County Jail inmate at the following address:

Inmate Name & Number

100 Deputy Dean Miera Dr. SW

Albuquerque, NM 87151

When sending mail to an inmate in the Bernalillo County Jail, there are some rules you must follow. Failure to follow the rules could result in confiscation of the mail or it being returned to the sender.

• All publications must be sent to the inmate by the publisher. 
• Publications not available to the general public are forbidden. 
• No publications or mail containing sexually explicit materials will be accepted. 
• Lewd materials are forbidden, including photographs, digital images, drawings, descriptions, and depictions. 
• Violent or threatening material is also forbidden, including instructions on how to make drugs, harm correctional officers or other inmates, or overthrow the government. 
• Letters must be written on plain white lined notebook paper. 
• Envelopes must be plain white and cannot be security envelopes. 
• Only one additional envelope can be included in each piece of mail, and the envelope cannot contain an adhesive stamp. 
• The jail limits letter sizes to four pages per letter. 
• Drawings can only be made with pencils or colored pencils. The jail does not allow art from watercolors, paints, markers, or crayons. 
• Photographs are not allowed unless they are photocopied onto plain paper. 
• Packages and books are forbidden and will be returned to the sender unopened.
• Junk mail is forbidden. 
• Greeting cards and postcards are both prohibited. 

Bernalillo County Jail staff members have the right to refuse any mail pieces that are stained, appear soaked in solutions, or contain contraband. All refused mail is returned to the sender and logged. The inmate is informed of the mail. 

Bernalillo County Jail Inmate Visitation

Before visiting an inmate at the Bernalillo County Jail, you must be aware of the rules. Before considering a visit, make sure you know the inmate’s ID number and the unit number they are being housed in. 

Visits are scheduled on a first-come, first-serve basis and are only available after an inmate has been in custody for at least 72 hours. Inmates are only allowed two visits per week. 

Video visits are offered by the jail. Visitors must register for an account before participating in a video visit with an inmate. The account must be verified before the video visit can be scheduled. 

The following are the rules for visitation.

• Miniskirts and other short apparel are forbidden. Shorts must be below the knee.
• Sleeveless and low-cut shirts are not allowed. 
• Dresses and capris must go below the knee when sitting. 
• Footwear must be worn by all visitors. Flip-flops and sandals are acceptable.
• Hats, bandanas, and scarves are forbidden. 
• Strollers, car seats, and diaper bags cannot be brought into the visitation area, but these can be left in the designated lobby area. 
• All coats and extraneous clothing must be removed and can be left in the locker area. 
• Inmates can only have three visitors at one time, regardless of age. 

Inmate visits can be denied for various reasons and at the discretion of staff members. The following could cause an inmate visit to be denied.

• A staff member believes the visitor is a threat to the inmate, other inmates, or staff members. 
• The inmate refuses the visitor. 
• The visitor becomes abusive to staff members. 
• The visitor is overly late or does not show up for the visit. 
• The visitor is dressed inappropriately. 

Order an Inmate Care Package or Deposit Money into Inmate Accounts

The Bernalillo County Jail provides a package system to allow loved ones to send packages to inmates. You can order an inmate package here. If you need assistance, you can call 1-800-546-6283. 

Packages are sent weekly, according to the housing unit of the inmate. All orders must be processed through Access Securepak and are subject to the following.

• Access Securepak charges a processing fee of $3.95, which is non-refundable. 
• Sales tax applies to all purchased items.
• There is a weekly inmate limit of $125 per week, including commissary spending, processing, and tax. 
• Access Securepak is the only authorized dealer for the holiday package program. 

The package program delivery schedule is as follows:

• F-Pod receives deliveries on Friday. 
• D-Pod receives deliveries on Wednesday.
• The Restricted Housing Unit and Infirmary receive deliveries on Tuesday. 
• E-Pod receives deliveries on Thursday.

You can add money to an inmate’s account in person, over the phone, or online. There are fees for retailer cash deposits.