Springer Correctional Center

The Springer Correctional Center (SCC) is a state prison for female inmates that was formerly the New Mexico Boys’ School. This facility was established when territorial Governor George Curry issued a proclamation declaring it to be a territorial institution, which officially opened on October 1, 1909. The property consists of approximately 4,000 acres.

The main compound covers approximately 40 acres. Most of the current facility was built in the mid-1960’s and is designed as an open campus with ten separate living units. The balance of the acreage is utilized for growing alfalfa to feed the facility cattle during the winter.

In November 2005, the Children, Youth & Family Department decided to close the juvenile facility. The New Mexico Corrections Department determined it would be suitable to house Level 1 & 2 inmates. 

The NMCD requested and received funding to operate the facility from the 2006 legislature. Construction of a double perimeter fence, installation of lighting, security cameras, and remodeling of the interior began in June 2006. Springer Correctional Center (SCC) opened officially on January 1, 2007 and transitioned to a women’s facility in October of 2016.

Springer Correctional Center (SCC) has approximately 22 buildings. This includes eight dormitories, two level-one housing units, several multi-programs buildings, maintenance buildings, and kitchen, dining and warehouse facilities. The gym complex consists of a full basketball court and weight room.

Prison Insights

Visiting Hours and Rules

Effective immediately, all visitation is suspended at Springer Correctional Center through the end of April 2020. This includes the suspension of contact, non-contact, and attorney visits in all prison facilities.For information regarding NMCD’s response to COVID-19, click here https://cd.nm.gov/covid-19-updates. 

Visitation Hours after April 30, 2020:

Saturday & Sunday & Holidays
8:30am – 3:30pm

General Information

All inmate visitors must submit a Visitor Application in advance for processing, then they must be added to an inmate's visiting list before visitation is permitted. All approved visitors that are 16 years of age and older, must surrender a valid picture ID upon entering a facility for visiting.

An inmate may be limited to three visitors (six years of age and older) and limited to three children (five years of age or younger) at any one time if space permits. The length of the visit may be limited only by the visit schedule and space availability. 

Visitors are authorized to enter visiting areas with a combined total of $30.00 in loose change for use in vending machines. Visitors with infants will be permitted to enter with or have access to: 

• two plastic bottles or a sip-cup
• three diapers
• a blanket
• baby wipes
• factory-sealed baby food 
• one plastic baby spoon
• a pacifier
• baby carrier

For a complete list of rules, click here.

Dress Code

All visitors must be appropriately attired in accordance with policy before entering any New Mexico Correctional Facility. Visitors are subject to denial of visiting privilege for that day if their attire is not in accordance with this policy.

Male Visitors: 

• Trousers and a shirt with sleeves must be worn at all times. Plain white undershirts or muscle, "A" shirts are not allowed when used as an outer garment
• Restricted clothing colors will depend on the facility inmate uniform code
• Shorts, beach-type shorts or cut-offs will not be worn
• Tank-Tops are not allowed
• Undergarments shall be worn, but not visible through outer clothing
• Footwear must be worn at all times. Beach type thongs, flip-flops slippers, and steel-toed boots or shoes are not permitted. Open-toed shoes are allowed
• No hats, scarves, bandanas, or other types of headbands will be brought into the institution or worn in the Visiting Room
• Sweat clothes or athletic (warm-up) clothes may be worn, with the exception of shorts
• Skintight clothing or spandex is not permitted

Female Visitors:

• Dresses, skirts, or pants must be worn
• Skirts or dresses with a slit higher than mid-thigh are not acceptable
• Skirts or dresses that are more than three inches above the knee are not acceptable
• Shorts, cut-offs, and beach-type shorts are not acceptable
• Sweat clothes or athletic (warm-up) clothes may be worn, with the exception of shorts
• Skintight clothing or spandex is not permitted
• Undergarments must be worn, including brassieres, but must not be visible through outer clothing
• Tank top blouses, spaghetti straps, tube tops, halter-tops, or spandex or spandex-like pants are not acceptable, nor is any type of see-through clothing
• Clothing must not be see-through, expose cleavage, the midriff, shoulders, or any part of the breast or upper thigh
• No hats, scarves, bandanas, or other types of headbands will be brought into the institution or permitted in the Visiting Room
• No bathing suits will be worn as an outer garment
• Footwear must be worn at all times. Beach type thongs, flip-flops, slippers, and steel-toed boots or shoes are not permitted. Open-toed shoes are allowed

How to Call an Inmate

How to Send Money

An approved visitor can send a money order with the inmate’s name and number directly to the facility.

Programs For Inmates

Adult Basic Education/General Education Diploma

Basic academic skills instruction and preparation for GED testing including career/technical, college readiness, Special Education, and adult literacy.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Programs and courses assisting offenders in recognizing destructive behavior patterns and developing positive, pro-social thinking habits in all areas of their lives.

Family Reunification

Programs and courses that focus on family reunification including family literacy and skills. Residents learn parenting skills by reading to their children on audio or video tape, and meet family obligations during incarceration.

Reentry

The Making the Right Turn to Reentry, pre-release guide is provided to prepare inmates, who are within six months of release, with processes to assist their reintegration back to their communities.

Vocational

The Education Bureau offers a variety of programs designed to increase student’s ability upon release to find a viable career that offers a living wage.

Community Corrections

Community Corrections outpatient programs offer close supervision and supportive treatment services for offenders who are considered as having a high set of needs that, if not met, render them at a higher risk for reoffending. Community Corrections outpatient offenders tend to have chronic needs such as mental health diagnoses, homelessness, severe medical conditions, and multiple unsuccessful attempts at substance abuse treatment, among others. Community Corrections services also include gender-specific supervision and treatment for female offenders with high needs. The duration of Community Corrections outpatient programming is six to twelve months.

Women’s Recovery Academy

Offers intensive substance abuse treatment and mental health services to parolees who need a transition from prison to community, as well as for parolees and probationers who are facing violations, as an alternative to incarceration. 

The Women’s Recovery Academy offers substance abuse and mental health treatment to up to forty eight female offenders in two tracks: substance abuse/mental health and moms and kids seeking on-campus reunification. A halfway house is also offered. Residential programs are six months in duration, and the halfway houses are designed to help offenders for a maximum of four months.

Pictures of Springer Correctional Center

Careers at Springer Correctional Center

If you are interested in a career with the New Mexico Department of Corrections and would like to work at the Springer Correctional Center, you can find out more information by clicking here.