SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 14

48th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2008

INTRODUCED BY

Cisco McSorley

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE SECRETARY OF CORRECTIONS, THE WARDEN OF CAMINO NUEVO CORRECTIONAL CENTER AND OTHER CONTRACTORS TO COLLABORATE WITH THE WOMEN'S JUSTICE PROJECT ON TRANSFORMING CAMINO NUEVO INTO AN APPROPRIATE GENDER-RESPONSIVE LOW-SECURITY FACILITY FOR WOMEN.

     WHEREAS, the Camino Nuevo correctional center houses female inmates who are classified at the lowest security levels, who are close to being released and who require the tools that will allow for their reintegration into our communities; and

     WHEREAS, the Camino Nuevo correctional center is centrally located in the Rio Grande corridor, where gainful employment and reintegration opportunities exist; and

     WHEREAS, Camino Nuevo's location in the city of Albuquerque allows for easy transportation of the children of female inmates for visitations and familial bonding; and

     WHEREAS, allowing inmates to connect with their communities and families has been shown to reduce recidivism and to provide more positive outcomes for women placed in the corrections system; and

     WHEREAS, national research shows that effective gender programming and gender-sensitive environments improve institutional culture, result in positive outcomes for female inmates and reduce recidivism; and

     WHEREAS, the Camino Nuevo facility was originally constructed to house the most dangerous juveniles classified at the highest security levels, and despite the lowest security classification of women now housed at the facility, the environment continues to reflect high-security incarceration practices; and

     WHEREAS, serious allegations of sexual assaults upon female inmates have arisen this past year and are believed to be partially due to the current institutional environment at the Camino Nuevo correctional center;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the secretary of corrections, the warden of the Camino Nuevo correctional center, the corrections corporation of America and other contractors at the facility be requested to collaborate with the New Mexico women's justice project and to allow the New Mexico women's justice project and other relevant members of the community, as selected or approved by the New Mexico women's justice project, to assist in transforming the environment at Camino Nuevo, including assistance in educational and vocational training, community and family reintegration, mother-child bonding, employment opportunities, behavioral health services and modifications of the physical environment at Camino Nuevo to meet the goals of a successful low-security facility for women; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the corrections department examine and, if necessary, renegotiate its contracts to better address the goals of transforming the Camino Nuevo correctional center into a model facility for successful reintegration of women; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the secretary of corrections, the warden of the Camino Nuevo correctional center and the New Mexico women's justice project report to the appropriate interim legislative committee during the 2008 interim on the progress of this collaborative process and on any changes or improvements made to the environment and services at the facility; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of corrections, the warden of the Camino Nuevo correctional center, the corrections corporation of America and the New Mexico women's justice project.