SENATE MEMORIAL 54

56th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2023

INTRODUCED BY

Harold Pope

 

 

 

 

 

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE NEW MEXICO COALITION OF SEXUAL ASSAULT PROGRAMS, INCORPORATED, TO CONVENE A TASK FORCE TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR POLICY AND LEGISLATIVE CHANGES TO IMPROVE LOCAL, COUNTY, STATE AND FEDERAL JAILS' AND DETENTION AND CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES' COMPLIANCE WITH THE FEDERAL PRISON RAPE ELIMINATION ACT OF 2003.

 

     WHEREAS, 34 U.S.C. Ch. 303 - Prison Rape Elimination, known as the federal Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003, is the first federal law implemented to deter sexual assault against people who are currently incarcerated; and

     WHEREAS, the purpose of the federal Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 is to support the prevention, reduction and elimination of sexual assault and rape within all corrections systems; and

     WHEREAS, the federal Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 mandates that correctional systems establish a zero-tolerance standard for sexual assaults of any kind; and

     WHEREAS, in its 2021 federal Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 annual report, the New Mexico corrections department reported there were one hundred nine prison rape investigations within the corrections department; and

     WHEREAS, there are no reliable data for the number and quality of prison rape investigations at the local and county levels in New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, the federal Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 requires all juvenile and adult jails and detention and correctional facilities to meet federal Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 standards, including passing a compliance audit, and there remains a gap in tracking compliance of local and county detention facilities and jails in New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, the New Mexico coalition of sexual assault programs, incorporated, and its network of sexual assault service programs and sexual assault nurse examiner programs provide confidential support and services to incarcerated survivors of sexual violence and provide statewide coordination of services and training of corrections professionals related to the federal Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003; and

     WHEREAS, a task force would provide valuable assistance in making recommendations for policy and legislative changes to improve New Mexico's compliance with the federal Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the New Mexico coalition of sexual assault programs, incorporated, be requested to convene a task force to make recommendations for policy and legislative changes to improve compliance of local, county, state and federal jails and detention and correctional facilities with the federal Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force be requested to include representatives of:

          A. the New Mexico coalition of sexual assault programs, incorporated;

          B. the corrections department;

          C. the children, youth and families department's juvenile justice division;

          D. the New Mexico association of counties;

          E. the American civil liberties union of New Mexico;

          F. a county jail in a rural area;

          G. a county jail in an urban area; and

          H. formerly incarcerated community representatives; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force report its recommendations for policy and legislative changes to improve compliance with the federal Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 to the legislative health and human services committee, the interim committee dealing with courts, corrections and justice issues and the crime victims reparation commission by November 1, 2023; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the executive director of the New Mexico coalition of sexual assault programs, incorporated; the chair of the legislative health and human services committee; the co-chairs of the interim committee dealing with courts, corrections and justice issues; the governor; the secretary of corrections; the director of the children, youth and families department's juvenile justice division; the executive director of the New Mexico association of counties; the executive director of the American civil liberties union of New Mexico; a county jail in a rural area; a county jail in an urban area; and formerly incarcerated community representatives.

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