Bernalillo County may move 250 to 300 prisoners to other facilities in New Mexico and possibly even Texas to ease jail crowding.
The County Commission on Tuesday will consider county officials' request for approval to spend up to $6 million to send inmates to other jurisdictions.
County officials are trying to avoid a possible federal court order to relieve crowding in the Metropolitan Detention Center on Albuquerque's west side by an even larger number of inmates.
Sending prisoners would be a short-term step. Longer-term options include expanding the jail's capacity and renovating an old county jail in downtown Albuquerque.
The Albuquerque Journal reports that plans call for moving prisoners to jails in Cibola and Sandoval counties, a private prison in Estancia and possibility a facility in Texas.