New warden Hickson welcomed

GRANTS - The New Mexico Women's Correctional Facility has welcomed a new warden, Arlene Hickson.

Warden Hickson began her career in corrections when she was only 19. She was following in the footsteps of her father, an assistant warden, whom she greatly admired and wanted to make proud. Her first position was as a correctional officer, but after two years, Hickson decided her future was to be a warden.

Hickson had been serving in Walsenburg, Colo., for seven years when she was offered the promotion as warden in Grants. She now oversees a place that she likes to call a city inside of a city. Employees inside the restricted area consist of food staff, doctors, commissary workers, counselors and more.

The sole entrance to the NMWCF is the front reception area. It is bright, cheerful and very busy, because it is the place everyone must pass through. All employees and visiting family members must pass inspection by the metal detector before entering.

The all female facility is the only one of its kind in the state, and is run in a less militaristic manner than most male facilities, containing all security levels, according to Hickson.

With 584 inmates with an average age being 20-26 years old, this is considered a small facility.

Warden said that her goal is “to see these offenders not come back.” Most offences committed by the inmates have been of the paper (bad checks and forgeries) and drugs sort.

Hickson considers herself a people person. She keeps an open door policy to staff and inmates, “and it is used often,” she commented. By keeping the lines of communication with her staff open, Hickson said she feels that she can help them to reach their own professional goals.

A few inmates who qualify live in the POD area. The POD living area is a faith-based program where the inmates are separated only by dividers. They are on the honor system as they socialize and complete their daily responsibilities, free of the traditional restraints of cell life.

The warden said she personally performs inspections into the podular designed housing units, for order and cleanliness.

The programs the inmates participate in are more about teaching skills, and use each program's individual structure.

“Many offenders are also victims,” said Hickson, “they have suffered spousal abuse, come from dysfunctional homes, lack self esteem and life skills. Our programs become a way for them to give back and reach out.”

In the Angel on My Shoulder program, inmates make dolls for children living with cancer in an Albuquerque hospital.

P.S. I Love You engages inmate mothers in reading a story onto tape that she sends to her child along with the book.

These programs are designed to correct behaviors and help ease their return to society, the warden explained

“Peanut Butter and Jelly” engages a counselor who provides pre-packaged foods for a parent to prepare for their child on visits. This practical exercise helps mothers learn new parenting skills.

Hickson said that when the inmates talk about their future, some express their belief that this is a positive experience. They feel they have learned to be a better parent and will be more successful in the future.

The warden practices what she preaches. Married to a correctional officer at Western New Mexico Men's Correctional Facility, and with two children, Hickson's favorite after-hours activity is spending quality time with her sons, who like movies, shopping, and extreme sports.