Matrese Avila Jail & Dispatcher Commander (928) 337-7581 E-Mail Me!

The mission of the Apache County Jail is to provide safe, secure constitutional and humane care for pre-trial and sentenced inmates in the custody of the Apache County Sheriff’s Office and to provide a safe, secure and professional environment for the facility staff. It is not our role to legislate, to render legal judgment or to punish.

Apache County broke ground for a new Sheriff’s Office and jail on June 19, 1990. The construction of the Sheriff’s Office and jail were done in two phases and completed on July 7, 1991.

The Sheriff’s Office moved its Detention Department into the newly a constructed facility on February 29, 1991. The facility has separate minimum, medium and maximum security housing areas, for both male and female inmates and also is equipped with handicap-accessible cells. The housing areas contain double bunked cells, showers and a dayroom. The detention facility also is equipped with a recreational yard, library, attorney-client room and a non-contact visiting area, a medical care room, a laundry and a maintenance shop.

The detention center’s design was the result of approximately five years of study into the planning and construction of detention centers throughout the country.

The pod system is a standard and up-to-date system favored throughout the West Coast. It is popular because it is more easily monitored. Video monitoring devices are used only in the booking area. Control for all other areas is by natural sight lines alone.

There are no blind corners, or dead spots. Inmates can be observed in any activity in which they are involved. The control center allows detention officers to see every corner of the facility.

Inmates are provided with phones in each housing unit. These phones are for collect calls, as well as phone cards. Inmates are provided with commissary, contracted through an outside company. Profits received from the phones and commissary sales are deposited into a Jail Services Fund, which is in turn used for the benefit and welfare of the inmates.

Apache County Detention has 19 detention officers split into four shifts that each includes a corporal. There is one sergeant, one lieutenant, one administrative assistant and a commander. There are 5 tower operators. All detention officers are certified through the Arizona Detention Association and they also receive Defensive Tactics training as well as report writing. All our taser certified also.