HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 9

53rd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2018

INTRODUCED BY

Sheryl Williams Stapleton

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY TO CONVENE A TASK FORCE TO EXAMINE THE NEEDS OF PUBLIC SAFETY ENTITIES AND TO DEVELOP A PUBLIC SAFETY FRAMEWORK TO ACCESS ACCURATE DATA, ANALYZE CRIME PATTERNS AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO DIRECT FUNDING AND RESOURCES.

     WHEREAS, high rates of property crime and violent crime in New Mexico create a serious detriment to the quality of life for New Mexico residents; and

     WHEREAS, the federal bureau of investigation's Crime in the United States report released in September 2017 indicated that violent crime in New Mexico increased by six and eight-tenths percent and property crime increased by six and two-tenths percent across the state between 2015 and 2016; and

     WHEREAS, creating safer communities is the goal of all state public safety entities; and

     WHEREAS, law enforcement models focused largely or exclusively on punishment have not been successful in moving New Mexico forward; and

     WHEREAS, ensuring a safe and secure environment for residents would entail a coordinated effort by all law enforcement agencies, the department of public safety, the courts, the corrections department, public defenders, district attorneys, university police, tribal police and other parties as identified; and 

     WHEREAS, currently, New Mexico does not have a coordinated public safety framework that can function strategically to access good data, analyze crime patterns or make recommendations to direct funding and resources; and

     WHEREAS, core components that need to be addressed include juvenile justice, mental and behavioral issues, education and socioeconomic factors; and

     WHEREAS, a coordinated statewide public safety framework taking a holistic approach is needed to address the multiple factors that contribute to increased crime and jeopardize public safety; and

     WHEREAS, the department of public safety protects human life and property through the detection and prevention of criminal activity and enforcement of state laws and rules; and

     WHEREAS, additionally, the department of public safety provides leadership, scientific, training and technical and operational support to the criminal justice community; and

     WHEREAS, the department of public safety could coordinate a task force focused on developing a public safety framework to identify the resources of each public safety entity in the state;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the department of public safety be requested to convene a task force to create a statewide public safety framework that would:

          A. examine the needs of municipalities and counties to address crime;

          B. consider changes to the Criminal Code to move toward internal consistency;

          C. gather accurate data across agencies to develop a more scientific-based model that reflects accurate crime patterns and helps inform decisions; and

          D. address stable and adequate funding to build and sustain a holistic criminal justice system based on the state's circumstances, background and needs; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force develop a public safety framework to provide a matrix to illustrate various efforts, programs and initiatives against their costs and to evaluate the proposed results; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force be requested to include participation of representatives of the department of public safety, municipal and county law enforcement agencies, the courts, the corrections department, the public defender department, the district attorneys, university police departments, tribal police and any other relevant parties; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force present its recommendations to the appropriate legislative interim committee dealing with courts, corrections and justice issues and the legislative finance committee by November 30, 2018; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of public safety, municipal chiefs of police and county sheriffs, the director of the administrative office of the district attorneys, the chief public defender, university police chiefs, tribal police chiefs, the co-chairs of the New Mexico legislative council and the legislative finance committee.

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