GRANTS, NM – At the November 7 Coffee with the Managers event, Core Civic representatives and Cibola County officials addressed recent media coverage regarding the Cibola County Correctional Center’s (CCCC) involvement in a federal drug trafficking investigation.
The discussion, which dominated the meeting, focused on Core Civic’s concerns about the portrayal of their facility’s operations, compliance, and role in the community. Core Civic’s CCCC Warden Joe Birmingham, emphasized the challenges of operating a private detention facility and expressed frustration over what they saw as incomplete reporting in the media.
The Cibola Citizen published an article on November 6 based on information provided directly by the United States Attorney’s Office (USAO), which had details about the investigation into drug trafficking linked to the Cibola County Correctional Center.
The USAO has since confirmed that the Citizen’s reporting was accurate and verified by both federal authorities and Core Civic corporate representatives. Nevertheless, CCCC officials felt that certain details were not fully contextualized, leading to a focused discussion during the Coffee with the Managers event.
CCCC’s Concerns
During the meeting, Warden Joe Birmingham outlined several specific concerns regarding the Citizen, and other outlets coverage:
Use of Historic Information: Birmingham argued that some of the incidents described in the article were historical and had been addressed well over a year ago. He expressed concern that these incidents were portrayed as current, potentially misleading the public about the facility’s present conditions.
Allegations of Sensationalism: Birmingham suggested that the media coverage leaned toward sensationalism, focusing heavily on issues common across all correctional facilities, such as contraband. He stated that these issues were not unique to Core Civic and felt that the coverage downplayed recent improvements made by the facility.
Lack of Representation in Coverage: Birmingham indicated that Core Civic representatives felt they did not have sufficient opportunity to share their perspective with the Citizen before publication. He noted that additional context about Core Civic’s compliance measures, audits, and proactive security improvements might have provided a fuller picture of the facility’s operations. For clarity, Core Civic has an understanding with the newspaper that all press communications must go through their press office. Core Civic’s statement, published in last week’s newspaper, was intended to be the only statement made by Core Civic’s corporation about the drug trafficking investigation.
Community and Economic Impact: Core Civic and county officials raised concerns that focusing primarily on negative issues could harm Core Civic’s reputation and potentially impact local jobs and tax revenue.
Commitment to Accurate Reporting
The Cibola Citizen maintains a commitment to transparency and accuracy in its reporting.
As with all our coverage, the Citizen’s report on the recent federal investigation was based on verified information provided by the USAO, who confirmed both the accuracy and completeness of the facts.
Additionally, Core Civic was offered an opportunity to participate in the USAO’s press release, which they declined at that time.
Before the Citizen’s article was published, the newspaper reached out to Core Civic’s press office, as is standard practice, and asked for comment from the corporation, which was included at the end of last week’s report.
In light of CCCC’s expressed concerns, the Citizen reached out to Core Civic’s Public Affairs Division to offer an opportunity for additional clarification or to provide further updates on their compliance efforts. Core Civic responded with offthe- record correspondence.
Core Civic’s Role in Cibola County
Core Civic’s presence in Cibola County brings both challenges and benefits.
The warden discussed ongoing compliance measures, including body scanners, drone detection systems, and a dedicated intelligence team to monitor and prevent contraband. He emphasized CCCC’s unique position as a private detention facility, with its required rigorous state and federal audits, which they claim exceeds the oversight faced by traditional county-run detention centers.
Birmingham said that Core Civic’s operations directly contribute over a million dollars in property tax revenue to Cibola County, representing nearly a third of the county’s total property tax intake.
Additionally, more than half of the facility’s employees are local residents, with others commuting from nearby communities and reservations, which brings indirect economic benefits to the area.
County officials further elaborated on Core Civic’s involvement in community activities, such as the recent Halloween outreach events, support for local schools, and charitable donations, which often include direct contributions to programs like Toys for Tots and other community-focused initiatives. At the meeting, county officials noted that Core Civic staff members, including the warden himself, are often present at local events, working to strengthen ties with the community and providing both financial and volunteer support.
Beyond economic and community engagement, Birmingham outlined Core Civic’s investment in facility upgrades and compliance measures aimed at maintaining safety and security at the correctional center. These include high-tech body scanners for incoming and outgoing inmates, drone detection systems to prevent contraband deliveries, and a network of security enhancements designed to deter drug smuggling and ensure overall facility safety. CCCC representatives stressed that private facilities like theirs face rigorous regulatory oversight, with mandatory quarterly audits and compliance checks by state and federal agencies—measures they noted are often not required of county-run detention centers.
Birmingham also pointed out Core Civic’s proactive role in supporting the recent federal investigation, cooperating with federal authorities to monitor inmate communications, track contraband attempts, and gather intelligence. He highlighted Core Civic’s efforts to go beyond contract obligations by implementing these additional security measures, which, he said, help ensure the safety of the facility’s staff and inmates while contributing to broader public safety in Cibola County.