Office of Professional Standards

The Office of Professional Standards (OPS) exists to promote the core values of the New Mexico Corrections Department (NMCD) and carries out this mission in three ways:

1. Vigorously investigating allegations of staff misconduct within the NMCD.

2. Identifying trends in misconduct and recommending policy changes to the Secretary of Corrections.

3. Providing training to NMCD personnel and training recommendations to the New Mexico Corrections Academy Division Director.

OPS Special Agents oversee and conduct administrative investigations and coordinate criminal investigations with external criminal justice partners, such as the New Mexico State Police, Federal Bureau of Investigation or other applicable law enforcement agencies. OPS maintains excellent working relationship with the NMCD Security Threat Intelligence Unit (STIU) and the assigned personnel of the respective units assist each other regularly. OPS is led by a Bureau Chief and currently has an authorized strength of six highly trained, well educated, and extensively experienced field agents, several of whom are certified New Mexico peace officers.

If you have an allegation of misconduct involving NMCD personnel, please call Ms. Bernadette Deats, OPS Management Analyst who functions as the unit's Case Assignments Officer, at (505) 383-2990

If you would wish to report a complaint or compliment related to NMCD staff, please call Ms. DEATS or send information via e-mail to NMCD-OPSReferrals@state.nm.us.

Other resources for constituent issues are:

• Office of Victim Services, 505.827.8848
• Office of Family Services, 505.827.8710
• Office of Inspector General, 505.827.8242

"Sed quis custodiet ispos custodes?"