HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR

HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 16

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE NEW MEXICO SUPREME COURT TO CONVENE A CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY TASK FORCE TO IDENTIFY ISSUES OF PRIMARY CONCERN WITHIN THE STATE'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY SYSTEM AND TO DEVELOP A STRATEGIC PLAN TO AMELIORATE THOSE CONCERNS.

 

     WHEREAS, the crime rates in New Mexico have continued to increase over the past several years, and the rate of property crime in Albuquerque is the highest in the country; and

     WHEREAS, most of the public safety concerns facing the state are linked to substance use, behavioral health concerns and strained criminal justice agency budgets; and

     WHEREAS, it is critical that the state address issues within the criminal justice system, which will involve evaluating and identifying the areas most in need of support within early childhood intervention programs; law enforcement; prosecutor's and public defender's offices; the courts; corrections facilities and county jails; and the behavioral health care system, among others;  

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the chief justice of the New Mexico supreme court be requested to convene, by April 1, 2018, a criminal justice and public safety task force to identify the issues of primary concern within the state's criminal justice and public safety system and to develop a strategic plan to ameliorate those concerns, including measurable outcomes to help ensure that public investments in improvements to that system are as efficient and effective as possible; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the criminal justice and public safety task force be composed of the following members or the members' designee:

          A. a representative of the courts, appointed by the chief justice of the New Mexico supreme court, to serve as the chair of the task force;

          B. the attorney general;

          C. the president of the New Mexico district attorneys association;

          D. the chief public defender;

          E. the secretary of corrections;

          F. the secretary of public safety;

          G. the secretary of children, youth and families;

          H. the secretary of health;

          I. the secretary of human services;

          J. the executive director of the New Mexico association of counties;

          K. the executive director of the New Mexico municipal league; and

          L. up to four additional members appointed by the chair of the task force; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the criminal justice and public safety task force present to the legislature a report on its work, including its specific recommendations for improvements to the state's criminal justice and public safety systems, no later than October 15, 2018; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the speaker of the house of representatives; the president pro tempore of the senate; the chief justice of the supreme court of New Mexico; the governor; the attorney general; the president of the New Mexico district attorneys association; the chief public defender; the secretaries of corrections, public safety, human services, children, youth and families and health; the executive director of the New Mexico association of counties; and the executive director of the New Mexico municipal league.

- 3 -