Prison commissary costs plummet under state management

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact: Brittany Roembach

Public Information Officer, Corrections Department

Brittany.roembach@cd.nm.gov

505-382- 3541

August 14, 2025

Prison commissary costs plummet under state management

New Mexico Corrections Department ends private contract, cuts prices statewide

SANTA FE – New Mexico inmates will pay significantly less for commissary items after the New Mexico Corrections Department (NMCD) took control of prison store operations , affecting more than 5,800 inmates and their families.

On August 4, 2025, NMCD’s Corrections Industries Division, an enterprise fund that operates independently from the Department’s general budget, assumed full control of commissary operations from Union Supply Group, which had managed the service since 2021.

“Our Corrections Industries team has worked incredibly hard to achieve this important and exciting milestone,” said NMCD Cabinet Secretary Alisha Tafoya Lucero. “Their dedication means inmates and their families now have access to more competitively priced items.”

Under the new system, Corrections Industries purchases items in bulk directly from Union Supply at wholesale rates and passes the savings on to inmates.

Union Supply Direct remains the Quarterly Package provider. Families can order from them beginning Sept. 1, 2025. Inmates can purchase commissary items through their Smart Communications tablets. Approved visitors can send a money orders to the prison facilities.

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The New Mexico Corrections Department (NMCD) is one of the largest state departments in New Mexico. The department staff and volunteers are fully committed to integrating programs in its facilities for rehabilitation. It is through programs and services the department aims to improve outcomes for offenders and enhance public safety in communities. For more information, visit cd.nm.gov or follow NMCD on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , X at @NMCDPIO.