RISE Program sees growing success at Socorro County Detention Center

A rehabilitation program inside the Socorro County Detention Center is showing measurable progress, with more participants completing treatment and transitioning successfully back into the community.

The RISE program — a voluntary recovery and reentry initiative — recently reached a milestone, graduating seven participants, with additional graduates now living in sober homes or independent housing, according to Detention Center Warden Eddie Garcia.

“This is definitely more than when we started,” Garcia said. “We began with one or two graduates. Now we’re seeing seven to 10, and the interest keeps growing.”

Garcia said detainees are now actively requesting to join RISE, a shift from earlier days when staff had to recruit participants directly from housing units.

Those who complete the program are offered continued support through partnerships with local providers, including Pecos Valley Counseling. Timothy Gonzalez, a comprehensive community support services worker and certified peer support worker with the agency, plays a key role in helping graduates transition after release.

Some participants enter men’s or women’s sober living homes in Socorro, where they receive housing, peer accountability, therapy and life-skills training. Others choose programs outside the area, including sober living facilities in Belen. Participation is entirely voluntary and not court-mandated.

“We don’t force anybody into anything,” Garcia said. “These individuals choose recovery on their own.”

In the sober living homes, residents attend group therapy several times a week, receive one-on-one counseling, and take part in community-based training such as CPR, Narcan administration and mental health first aid. Gonzalez said the goal is to help participants build independence while avoiding environments that could trigger relapse.

“It's a safety net,” Gonzalez said. “They’re learning how to live clean, how to work, how to socialize again and how to be part of the community.”

Herman Garcia, a former RISE participant, recently achieved full independence after about three months in sober living, securing an apartment, employment and reconnecting with family. Others remain in structured housing or have transitioned to alternative programs.

Garcia noted that a key indicator of success is that graduates are not returning to custody.

“They’re not back here,” he said. “That tells us they’re doing something right.”

Former participants also return to the detention center to speak with current RISE members, sharing firsthand experiences of recovery and reintegration.

“They’ve lived it,” Garcia said. “They can give back in a way that really resonates.”

Looking ahead, the detention center will host a motivational speaker on Feb. 2 as part of its expanding programming. Chris Serna, a recovery advocate and Opportunity House graduate from Hobbs, is scheduled to share his story with RISE participants and invited community members.

Garcia said the event reflects a broader shift toward rehabilitation-focused programming within the facility.

“This is something new for us,” he said. “But it’s exactly what we should be striving for — giving people real tools and real hope.”

Officials say the growing success of RISE highlights the impact of voluntary, community-supported recovery programs and the importance of continued collaboration between the detention center and local service providers.