County Jail

The Otero County Jail has space for 234 male and female work-release inmates, as well as office space, holding areas, a full-service kitchen, outdoor exercise yard, sally port and staff areas. The staff-efficient design incorporates the ‘Eye in the Sky’ management technique of elevating the housing control officer to a higher line of site, allowing one officer to effectively observe 116 inmates. The 42,800-square-foot detention center was designed through the previous firm of ASA Architects in collaboration with Wiginton Hooker Jeffry P.C., a Dallas-based firm specializing in government facilities. Vigil & Associates’ president/principal, Ray Vigil, served as project manager.