DETENTION CENTER STRIP SEARCHES

SB 180 limits strip or cavity searches in New Mexico juvenile detention facilities to situations where there is a reasonable belief that dangerous contraband is present and cannot be found by other means, requiring authorization from the facility superintendent. The bill mandates that such searches be conducted in the least intrusive manner possible and requires detailed incident reports - including the child's name, search rationale, and results - to be submitted within one business day. It also prohibits cameras or recording devices in shower and toilet areas of detention facilities. These provisions directly affect juvenile detention facilities and the children held in them in New Mexico.