landscape with hot air balloons in New Mexico with text "Justice Reinvestment in New Mexico"

Directed by the Governor, legislative leaders, and the Chief Justice to assess the state’s criminal justice  system and recommend changes, the New Mexico Justice Reinvestment Working Group (JRWG) spent seven months analyzing system data, practices, and policies at decision points throughout the criminal justice process. The Crime and Justice Institute (CJI) has provided technical assistance to support the JRWG’s efforts, recently presenting to New Mexico’s Courts, Corrections and Justice Interim Committee about the group’s progress. In this presentation, CJI representatives Colleen Bogonovich and Len Engel, alongside the chair of the JRWG, Captain Kevin Burns from the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office, outlined the findings and recommendations developed during the group’s extensive engagement.

The Challenge

New Mexico communities suffer from insufficient mental health and addiction services that divert law enforcement resources away from resolving more serious public safety threats. Over the past decade, New Mexico has seen rising rates of substance use disorders, ranking third in the nation for prevalence, yet only six percent of affected individuals receive treatment. This gap has led to the criminal justice system becoming the primary responder to behavioral health crises, resulting in an estimated 65 percent of individuals entering the system with behavioral health needs in 2024 without adequate treatment. Compounding these issues, New Mexico experienced the highest violent crime rate in the country in 2022.

Presentation Key Take-Aways

The JRWG highlighted key strategies aimed at enhancing public safety while also improving the efficiency of the state’s criminal justice system. Their comprehensive assessment reflects a thorough analysis of existing challenges, including behavioral and mental health, recidivism rates, and the allocation of law enforcement resources. By focusing on data-driven solutions, the JRWG seeks to inform policy changes that can lead to more equitable outcomes for individuals involved in the justice system.

The Justice Reinvestment Working Group’s thorough analysis has established a strong, evidence-based foundation for enhancing New Mexico’s criminal justice system. As we move forward, ongoing collaboration among policymakers, law enforcement, and community stakeholders will be crucial to creating and maintaining a safer New Mexico.” – Len Engel, CJI Director of Policy & Campaigns

The recommendations fall under four key policy areas:

  • Strengthen and Prioritize Public Safety and Public Health Responses, including establishing statewide crisis response, enhancing collaboration between system partners, and creating a public crime data dashboard.
  • Focus Prison Resources on Serious, Violent Offenses, including addressing the wide range of conduct in the state’s lowest felony class and creating more accountability for individuals charged with drug possession.
  • Prioritize Resources for High-Cost, High-Need Individuals, including tailoring probation conditions to individual risk and needs, establishing standardized and timely responses to violations, and expanding medication-assisted treatment.
  • Reinvest Savings and Ensure Sustainability of Interventions, including investing in recruitment and training initiatives for system actors and safeguarding the successful outcomes of this comprehensive public safety package.

These recommendations are expected to inform future legislative initiatives and resource allocation.

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