Joe Williams, Secretary

Department of Corrections

On January 1, 2003, the Honorable Bill Richardson, Governor of New Mexico, appointed Joe Williams as the Secretary of Corrections. In 2007 Joe began his second term as Secretary of Corrections for the State of New Mexico.

After graduating Albuquerque High, Joe attended Western New Mexico University where he earned a B.A.S. degree. He joined the New Mexico Corrections Department in 1982 and within ten years, was named Warden at Western New Mexico Correctional Facility located in Grants, New Mexico in 1992. Joe went on to successively more challenging warden positions within the state and was transferred in 1995 as the Warden of Central New Mexico Correctional Facility in Los Lunas, New Mexico. This facility is the largest state operated facility and is also the most complex, as it included Level I through Level VI classified inmates (minimum to maximum). It also encompassed the Mental Health Unit and the system's hospital.

In 1999, Joe accepted the challenge from The Geo Group, Inc. (formerly known as Wackenhut) of turning around the troubled prison they operated in Hobbs, New Mexico. The Lea County Correctional Facility was turned into the "flagship" prison in the state. His experience with the GEO Group gave him rare insight into the world of private corrections.

On the job, Joe is a tough, confident leader respected by his staff and his peers across the nation. He knows what must be done and inspires others to achieve. Joe's loyalty to the state system is demonstrated by 25 years of service in public and private roles.

Joe was a member of the New Mexico Corrections Workers Association. He understands the issues of correctional officers, supervisors and inmates. He is acquainted with many key members of the legislature. The American Correctional Association recognized his accomplishments and President Charles J. Kehoe appointed Joe in 2004 to the Standards Committee for a four-year term. One of the accomplishments that Joe is most proud of is in January 2007 the American Correctional Association recognized the New Mexico Corrections Department for achieving accreditation in all correctional facilities as well as Central Office, Probation and Parole Division, Corrections Industries Division and the Training Academy. With this accomplishment, New Mexico is now among the seven other states that have had their entire department accredited.

Joe’s foremost concern is staff and inmate safety, thus he is focusing on policy revisions regarding emergency preparedness, use of force and officer uniform equipment. For example every Correctional Officer in New Mexico has a stab proof vest, hand cuffs, chemical agent and a radio device. Also, Joe’s first year as Secretary he removed the danger of second-hand smoke and led the department forward as a non-smoking and tobacco free environment. Joe’s first year as Secretary he removed the danger of second hand smoke and led the department forward as a non smoking and tobacco free environment. Meanwhile employee wellness has tremendously increased and every prison has a workout facility either onsite or in the near vicinity. On any given night, at the training academy, you can find Joe working out alongside the correctional officers and cadets.

As a result of the growth of the inmate population, Joe recognized that it was vital to create two new coordinator positions – Family & Constituent Services Coordinator and Victim Services Coordinator. The Family Coordinator supports the extensive needs of inmates’ children and family members by communication, which allows family to have a significant input in the inmates after- release plan. Then on other side of the coin, the Victim Services program serves as a direct point of contact for crime victims and their families.

Secretary Williams is also the first Secretary of Corrections to have held the rank of Correctional Officer in the history of the New Mexico Corrections Department. Additionally, he is the first private sector Warden ever to be selected to head a state correctional system in the nation.

Joe Williams is an experienced and highly regarded corrections professional with a background in both public and private correctional facilities. He knows the street culture and the prison society better than most. His background and many accomplishments help make New Mexico a safer place for all of us.