Union County Jail
Union County Jail
Physical Address
Vigil-Maldonado Detention Center, Colfax County444 Hereford Street
Raton , NM 87740
Jail Phone Number
575-445-3691Union County Inmate Search and Booking Information
Find someone in custody in Union County. For a Union County arrest, ask Vigil-Maldonado detention in Colfax County to confirm whether the person was booked in Raton. Say that the case originated in Union County.
The district attorney lists the Union County Sheriff at 200 Court Street in Clayton, 575-374-2583, and Clayton Police at 112 North Front Street, 575-374-2504. Ask the arresting agency where the person was taken if the jail has no match.
Before you visit or send money: Confirm where the person is held and ask for the booking or inmate number. Call the jail in Raton for visits and custody. For a Union County case, get the hearing location from the court clerk. The booking location and court location can be in different counties.
Read inmate search answers
1. How do I find someone in custody in Union County?
For a Union County arrest, ask Vigil-Maldonado detention in Colfax County to confirm whether the person was booked in Raton. Say that the case originated in Union County. Write down the facility, booking or inmate number and the time you confirmed custody. Keep any court case number separate.
↑ Back to the question list2. Who can I call to check a booking?
Contact Vigil-Maldonado Detention Center at 444 East Hereford Avenue, Raton. Call 575-445-3691. Start with the full name, date of birth, approximate arrest date and the city or agency involved. If you already have a booking number, give that first. Official contact and facility information.
↑ Back to the question list3. What if the person does not show up?
Check spelling, hyphens, both surnames and the name used at arrest. With a recent arrest, ask whether intake is complete. If the jail has no record, ask the arresting agency where the person was taken and call that facility. A missing entry by itself does not establish a release.
↑ Back to the question list4. How can I find out if they went to another jail?
The district attorney lists the Union County Sheriff at 200 Court Street in Clayton, 575-374-2583, and Clayton Police at 112 North Front Street, 575-374-2504. Ask the arresting agency where the person was taken if the jail has no match. Ask when the person arrived or whether they were transferred, and get the receiving jail’s phone number. Call the receiving jail to confirm it accepted the person before arranging a ride, mailing anything or depositing money.
↑ Back to the question list5. Can I see a booking photo or mugshot?
If a booking record has a photo, compare the booking date and identifying details with what you know. If there is no photo, ask the facility’s records office whether photos are available and what request it accepts. A booking record shows an arrest or intake. The court record is where to check how a charge was resolved.
↑ Back to the question list6. How do I check for an active warrant?
Contact the agency or court that may have issued the warrant. Give the person’s full name and the case number if you have it. The New Mexico Courts public case search can help identify a case and its court, but a missing entry or an old jail listing cannot confirm whether a warrant is active.
↑ Back to the question list7. Where can I see the charges and next court date?
Write down the charge names and any case number you find in the booking record. Search New Mexico Courts public case search and call the clerk listed for that case to confirm the hearing time, courthouse and any public access instructions. For local court contacts, see the JailExchange court guide.
↑ Back to the question list8. Who can tell me whether bond was set or when they will be released?
For a local criminal case, confirm the latest release order with the court and ask the housing jail how it processes the order. A payment can still leave a separate hold to resolve, so ask about pickup before driving. Use the JailExchange bail guide for local contacts and procedures.
↑ Back to the question list9. Can I get a release or transfer notification?
Check New Mexico VINE or call 877-551-8463. If you can locate the record, follow the enrollment steps and keep your contact information current. If the service cannot find the person, ask the holding agency about its custody updates and victim notification process.
↑ Back to the question list10. How can I talk to someone in custody?
Ask the confirmed facility which phone service it uses and whether the person needs your number on an approved list. Ask how they can place an outgoing call. If a call is blocked, confirm the facility and account type before buying more credit. Ask counsel how to arrange a confidential legal call.
↑ Back to the question list11. How can I set up a visit?
Call the jail in Raton for visits and custody. For a Union County case, get the hearing location from the court clerk. The booking location and court location can be in different counties. Ask whether you need an appointment, photo ID, visitor approval or special paperwork to bring a child. Confirm the exact address and visit type before leaving home.
↑ Back to the question list12. Where do I send letters or photographs?
Ask for the personal-mail address and the exact format for the person’s name, ID and return address. Some facilities use a separate mail processor. Ask what photographs, cards or other enclosures they accept before sending anything.
↑ Back to the question list13. How do I send money to the right account?
Use the vendor linked by the confirmed facility. Match the facility name, person and ID before paying. Commissary, phone credit and court bond can go through separate systems. If they have moved, check the new facility’s instructions before using the old account.
↑ Back to the question list14. Who do I contact with an urgent health or safety concern?
Call the facility holding the person and ask for the shift supervisor or medical unit. Give the full name, booking number and the specific concern, including any time-sensitive medication. Staff may be able to take the information even if they cannot discuss treatment with you.
↑ Back to the question list15. How do I search state prison, federal or immigration custody?
The New Mexico Corrections Department offender search covers state prison and supervision records. Check the listed status and location. For federal prison custody use the Federal Bureau of Prisons locator. For a recent federal arrest without a locator result, ask the arresting agency or counsel which facility is holding the person. For immigration detention, use the ICE Online Detainee Locator with the A-number and country of birth, or the name and country of birth. For a tribal arrest or a child’s arrest, ask the arresting agency directly about the correct facility and records process.
↑ Back to the question listUnion County bail and bond: Clayton, Des Moines and Folsom
Union County has no jail (NM Counties). The Union County Sheriff, 200 Court St., Clayton, 575-374-8896, ext.
4, handles arrests in Clayton, Des Moines, Folsom, Grenville and Amistad.
The Union County Inmate Search can help you find someone.
1. Where are Union County inmates held?
Deputies take them to the Colfax County detention center in Raton, 444 Hereford St., 575-445-3691, which houses Union County inmates under contract.
2. Is the prison near Clayton the county jail?
It isn't. The Northeast New Mexico Correctional Facility in Clayton is a privately run state prison for men who have already been sentenced. People waiting on bail are not held there (NM Corrections).
3. Does being held in Raton slow the case?
It may. Because the person sits in another county's jail, the judge gets 5 days to set terms instead of 3 (Rule 5-401, part A). Probable cause gets ruled on within 48 hours either way (Rule 6-203).
4. Is bail in Clayton taken from a chart?
Union County judges can't use one (Rule 5-401, part E). Certain petty offenses allow a promise-to-appear release at booking, but not for DWI or family violence (Rule 6-408).
5. If money is set, what kinds are there?
Union County judges must justify money in writing. They try a ten percent cash deposit before property, and property before the full amount, which a family can pay outright or through a licensed bondsman (Rule 5-401; license lookup).
6. Can bond be refused in Union County?
For a felony, after the prosecutor wins a detention hearing (constitution; Rule 5-409). Being poor alone is never a reason to keep a safe person locked up.
7. Which court has Clayton cases?
Magistrate court, 836 Main St., Clayton, 575-374-9472 (court list). Felony cases are heard by the Eighth Judicial District (NMSA 34-6-1).
8. How does Union County assign a free lawyer?
Through the courts rather than the Taos public defender office (LOPD). Ask at the first hearing.
9. Where do teens and federal cases from Clayton end up?
Teens: the Children's Code (NMSA 32A-2-13), with certified centers far away (CYFD). Federal: Santa Fe, 505-988-6481.
10. Who can confirm a Union County bond?
The sheriff, 575-374-8896, ext. 4.
Union County bail contacts
- Sheriff
- 200 Court St., Clayton; 575-374-8896 ext. 4
- Where held
- Colfax County jail, Raton; 575-445-3691
- Magistrate court
- 575-374-9472
- Inmate search
- Union County Inmate Search
Union County Jail Inmate Visitation
Friends and Family – Union County Jail does not put visiting days or times on a public website. The current schedule is provided by phone only, at 575-445-3691. A single posted schedule often does not fit, and privacy and security also argue against listing hours.
Before You Telephone
- Have the complete name and birthday, your own ID, and a booking number if you have it.
- A waiting period of 48 hours up to a week is common; ask when eligibility begins.
- Explain who you are and how you are related before you ask for hours, and stay respectful.
Questions to Ask When You Call
- what identification to have ready at arrival
- the length of time granted for a visit
- whether children are allowed and what is required for them
- the days and times now being used for visits
- how far in advance to set the appointment
- what you should wear and what you may take inside
- whether on-site visits, video visits, or both are being offered
- if you need to join a visitor list first and how that is arranged
Common Visiting Rules
A typical visiting program uses rules such as these. Confirm what this New Mexico facility requires.
- Most jails may search vehicles on the property; do not leave anything illegal in your car.
- Bring only your car key and your ID into the visiting area.
- Keep your behavior calm and cooperative; breaking the rules or causing a commotion can end the visit, and you can even be permanently barred from future visits.
- No food is allowed, and snacks, drinks, and gum are commonly prohibited during the visit.
- If children are allowed, an adult typically has to stay with them and supervise them throughout the visit.
- Most jails do not allow underwire bras, because they set off metal detectors.
Union County Criminal Court in Clayton
Union County is in the far northeast corner of New Mexico, and Clayton is the county seat. The county no longer runs its own jail, so people arrested here are held in a detention center in another county.
The courts still operate in Clayton, and hearings for Union County cases are held there.
Union is part of the Eighth Judicial District, with Taos and Colfax Counties.
1. Where are people held after an arrest in Union County?
- Union County Magistrate Court, 100 Court St., Suite 5, Clayton, NM 88415: (575) 374-9472
- Eighth Judicial District Court, Union County, 100 Court St., Clayton: (575) 374-9577
- Eighth Judicial District Attorney, Clayton office, 100 Court St., Suite 6: (575) 374-2569
- Clayton Municipal Court: (575) 374-8114
Since Union County's jail is closed, arrested adults are taken out of county. Union County inmates are housed at the Vigil-Maldonado Detention Center, the Colfax County jail at 444 Hereford St., Raton, (575) 445-3691, but holding arrangements can change. Call the Union County Sheriff's Office at (575) 374-2583 to confirm where a person is. The Union County Inmate Search may also help.
↑ Back to the question list
2. How do first appearances work when the jail is out of county?
The rules are the same as anywhere in New Mexico. Warrantless arrests still need a judge's probable cause finding inside 48 hours, and a jailed person must see a judge within three days. The Union County magistrate handles that hearing, sometimes by video from the facility where the person is held, and sets release conditions.
↑ Back to the question list
3. What does the Union County Magistrate Court handle?
It tries misdemeanors such as DWI, battery, trespass and wildlife violations, and a six-person jury may be requested. Felony cases open here. Clayton ordinance cases go to the municipal court.
↑ Back to the question list
4. Can a Union County defendant be held until trial?
For felonies, the district attorney can ask the district court for pretrial detention. The judge starts a hearing within five days and denies release only when clear and convincing evidence shows the public can't be protected by conditions. Otherwise, the person is released on conditions and returns to Clayton for hearings.
↑ Back to the question list
5. How does a Union County felony case proceed?
The state moves forward by indictment from grand jurors or by a preliminary hearing, which has to happen within 10 days for someone in custody and 60 for anyone out. Arraignment follows at the district court in Clayton, and the case heads toward plea or trial.
↑ Back to the question list
6. Where can Union County defendants apply for appointed counsel?
The closest Law Offices of the Public Defender office is in Taos at 105 Sipapu St., (575) 613-1364. You can also ask the judge for appointed counsel at your first appearance.
↑ Back to the question list
7. What happens at sentencing, and how do appeals work?
Twelve jurors sit for a felony trial. Basic state terms depend on the degree of the felony and stretch from a year and a half up to 18 years, with life reserved for capital crimes. Misdemeanors can bring up to 364 days. Someone convicted by the magistrate may get a new trial in district court with an appeal filed inside 15 days; a district court conviction can be appealed to the New Mexico Court of Appeals within 30 days. The Northeast New Mexico Correctional Facility near Clayton is a privately run state prison for men serving prison sentences, not the county jail.
↑ Back to the question list
8. Where do federal cases from Union County go?
Federal charges are heard in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico, with courthouses in Albuquerque, (505) 348-2000, and Santa Fe, (505) 988-6481.
↑ Back to the question list
9. How can I look up a Union County case?
10. Who should I call about a Union County case or inmate?
For where someone is being held, call the Union County Sheriff's Office at (575) 374-2583. For court dates, call the magistrate court at (575) 374-9472 or the district court at (575) 374-9577. This page is general information, not legal advice.
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Information for this service is currently unavailable.
Information for this service is currently unavailable.
Union County does not keep inmates in Clayton. People arrested in Union County are housed next door in Colfax County, at the Vigil-Maldonado Detention Center on Hereford Street in Raton, so all mail for them goes to that jail. Letters there are scanned and inspected for contraband before delivery, and the Raton jail has zero tolerance for mail violations.
Mail for a Union County inmate held in Raton:
Inmate's Full Name & Inmate ID #
Vigil-Maldonado Detention Center
444 Hereford Street
Raton, NM 87740
- Find them first: Use the inmate search or call 575-445-3691 to make sure the person is at Vigil-Maldonado and to get their inmate ID number.
- Addressing: Write the inmate's full name and ID number on the envelope, and your full name and address in its top left corner. Without a return address, the letter will probably be destroyed.
- Writing: Use a blue or black pen. Felt markers, crayons, colored ink, lipstick and perfume aren't allowed in Raton.
- What not to add: No drawings on the envelope, and no glitter, confetti or other items tucked in with the letter.
- Greeting cards: A card is fine if it is plain and doesn't play music.
- Books and magazines: Reading material has to be new and arrive from the publisher itself.
- Packages: Boxes from home are not accepted; items come only through the jail's commissary provider.
- Stamps: Raton won't take stamps by mail. Instead, add money to the inmate's account and they can buy their own.
- Limits on contact: A Union County inmate can't swap letters with co-defendants, other prisoners or anyone named in a no-contact order. Everyone else may write as often as they like, and mail is handed out on weekdays.
Securus AdvanceConnect is a prepaid calling account that links directly to your mobile phone or landline number, allowing you to receive outbound calls from an incarcerated individual. Because correctional phone systems never allow incoming calls, funding an AdvanceConnect balance ensures calls are accepted immediately without being blocked by cell carriers.
Important: Mobile Networks Block Inmate Calls Without Prepaid Funds
Correctional facilities do not allow collect billing to cell phones, and mobile carriers automatically block incoming collect calls from detention centers. While some residential landlines may allow direct billing, mobile phones and VoIP services require an active prepaid AdvanceConnect balance, which you can verify with your phone provider. If you do not register online and fund your account right away, your loved one will hear an automated error message stating that your number cannot accept calls.
Step-by-Step Instructions to Register and Fund AdvanceConnect
- Go to securustech.online or open the Securus mobile app.
- Select Sign Up and create your account using your 10-digit telephone number and email address.
- Search for your facility by state and agency name, then add the inmate using their full legal name or booking ID.
- Select AdvanceConnect under calling accounts.
- Choose your deposit amount, review convenience and transaction fees, and enter your credit or debit card billing details.
- Authorize payment and confirm that your mobile phone allows calls from automated or unknown correctional numbers.
What the Inmate Needs to Do
The inmate picks up any dayroom phone or logs onto their handheld tablet, dials your 10-digit number, and enters their assigned PIN. The automated system verifies that your AdvanceConnect account has an active balance and connects the call. All calls are subject to recording and monitoring by facility staff.
Official Provider: Securus Technologies Official Website
Customer Service Telephone: 1-800-844-6591
Support Hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year
Supported Languages: English and Spanish
Other Services Provided by Securus Technologies
In addition to AdvanceConnect Prepaid Calling, Securus Technologies and its subsidiary JPay provide several other communication, financial, and visitation services:
- Direct Bill Phone Calling: Establish a monthly billed calling account for verified landline numbers.
• Learn more on our website: Direct Bill Phone Calling Guide | • Visit official vendor page: Securus Direct Bill - Securus Video Connect: Schedule and join live video visits from home using your computer or smartphone.
• Learn more on our website: Video Visitation Guide | • Visit official vendor page: Securus Video Connect - JPay Money Deposits (Trust & Canteen): Send money directly into an inmate's jail trust account for commissary store purchases.
• Learn more on our website: Money Deposits Guide | • Visit official vendor page: JPay Money Transfers - JPay Email Messaging & Photos: Send electronic messages, photo attachments, and VideoGrams directly to their tablet or kiosk.
• Learn more on our website: Email Messaging Guide | • Visit official vendor page: JPay Email Services
Securus Direct Bill is an invoiced telephone calling service designed for approved residential landlines, law offices, and commercial businesses. Instead of prepaying funds in advance, calls received from an incarcerated individual are billed directly to your account on a monthly itemized billing invoice.
Important: Direct Bill Requires Credit Approval and Qualifying Lines
Direct Bill is not available for mobile cell phones, internet VoIP numbers, or customers with poor or unestablished telephone credit history. Correctional facilities enforce strict telecommunications billing rules, which you can verify by calling Securus customer care. If your line does not meet credit approval standards, you must open an AdvanceConnect prepaid account instead to receive incoming calls from your loved one.
Step-by-Step Instructions to Set Up a Direct Bill Account
- Contact Securus customer service at 1-800-844-6591 or submit an application via securustech.net.
- Provide your billing name, service address, and qualifying residential or business landline telephone number.
- Submit to a standard credit evaluation performed by Securus to determine billing eligibility.
- Establish your authorized monthly credit limit upon approval.
- When your phone rings with a call from the detention center, follow the recorded operator instructions and press the requested key to accept charges.
- Pay your monthly billing invoice online, by phone, or through the mail.
What the Inmate Needs to Do
The inmate dials your phone number from any dayroom telephone and keys in their assigned PIN. The automated system verifies that your account is in good standing and has not exceeded its monthly spending ceiling before connecting the call. All non-privileged conversations are recorded and monitored.
Official Provider: Securus Technologies Official Website
Customer Service Telephone: 1-800-844-6591
Support Hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year
Supported Languages: English and Spanish
Other Services Provided by Securus Technologies
In addition to Direct Bill Calling, Securus and its subsidiary JPay offer several other communication, financial, and visitation services:
- AdvanceConnect Prepaid Calling: Fund a prepaid calling account tied to your mobile phone number.
• Learn more on our website: AdvanceConnect Calling Guide | • Visit official vendor page: Securus AdvanceConnect - Securus Video Connect: Schedule and join live video visits from home using your computer or smartphone.
• Learn more on our website: Video Visitation Guide | • Visit official vendor page: Securus Video Connect - JPay Money Deposits (Trust & Canteen): Send money directly into an inmate's jail trust account for commissary store purchases.
• Learn more on our website: Money Deposits Guide | • Visit official vendor page: JPay Money Transfers - JPay Email Messaging & Photos: Send electronic letters, photos, and VideoGrams directly to their tablet or kiosk.
• Learn more on our website: Email Messaging Guide | • Visit official vendor page: JPay Email Services
Information for this service is currently unavailable.
Information for this service is currently unavailable.
Union County County Jails
- Vigil-Maldonado Detention Center: 575-445-3691
- District Attorney: 575-374-2569
- Union County Sheriff: 575-374-2583
The Union County Jail serves the following cities and towns of Union County: Clayton, Des Moines, Folsom, Moses and Nolan.