The Eddy County Commmission has approved a request for proposals to solicit competitive bidding from qualified firms for the construction of a new jail. The project will be located at 1501 Corrales Drive in Carlsbad. The current jail, built was in 1993, and updated in 2002 and again in 2012. Despite the upgrades, the sheriff’s office says the jail continues to face significant structural and operational challenges. A 2019 facility report identified several critical deficiencies, including outdated systems, capacity concerns, and design constraints that no longer meet safety or operational standards.