Roosevelt County jail policy on lawyer visits tossed

PORTALES, N.M. (AP) - A New Mexico judge has tossed out a Roosevelt County jail policy that limited attorney contact with inmates.

The Portales News-Tribune reports (https://goo.gl/RpLQW5) that District Judge Donna Mowrer ruled last week the policy was unconstitutional and attorney visits did not aid in helping inmates escape as officials claimed.

Under the old policy, attorneys could only have contact with inmates between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and only with 24 hours advanced notice.

Mowrer said that policy was “an unconstitutional infringement on the detainees’ rights.”

County Manager Amber Hamilton says the policy was changed Friday per court order.

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Information from: Portales News-Tribune, https://www.pntonline.com