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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR Swisstack

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

2/21/07

HJM 61

SHORT TITLE Research Adult Probation and Parole Services

SB

ANALYST Peery-Galon

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY07

FY08

NFI

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Response Received From

New Mexico Corrections Department (NMCD)

No Response Received From

New Mexico Sentencing Commission

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Joint Memorial 61 requests the New Mexico Sentencing Commission research issues

related to providing adult probation and parole services to offenders in New Mexico. The joint

memorial requests the research conducted by the New Mexico Sentencing commission to include

the following:

•

Caseloads for adult probation and parole officers;

•

National standards for caseloads;

•

Starting salaries for adult probation and parole officers;

•

Competing salaries for similar employment in New Mexico;

•

Retention of adult probation and parole officers; and

•

The number of vacant officer positions within the adult probation and parole division.

The New Mexico Sentencing Commission is to report its findings to the appropriate interim

legislative committee by November 30, 2007.

House Joint Memorial 61 – Page

2

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

There is no appropriation to assist the New Mexico Sentencing Commission in conducting the

research. NMCD states the New Mexico Sentencing Commission indicated that it can research

the designated issues by reviewing and assessing existing data or information, and an

appropriation would not be needed to conduct this research.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

NMCD states the joint memorial should be a great benefit to the department because the study

will help illuminate the current status, difficulties and concerns of the Probation and Parole

Division. NMCD reports there is a substantial vacancy rate for probation and parole officers.

Also, NMCD notes a problem exists in retaining probation and parole officers due to relatively

low pay when compared with probation and parole officers in the Albuquerque metropolitan

court and federal system.

There was a 22.2 percent turnover of probation and parole officers in fiscal year 2006. NMCD’s

Key Quarterly Performance Measure Report, for the second quarter of fiscal year 2007, shows

the average standard caseload per probation and parole officer was 120. The performance

measure’s fiscal year 2007 target is 92.

RPG/csd

Projected Growth of

Probation and Parole

Offenders

12,500

13,000

13,500

14,000

14,500

15,000

15,500

16,000

FY 0 5 FY 06 FY 0 7

Pr o j .

FY 08

Pr o j .

Sou r c e : NMCD