SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 2

48th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2007

INTRODUCED BY

Cisco McSorley

FOR THE COURTS, CORRECTIONS AND JUSTICE COMMITTEE

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES DEPARTMENT AND THE CORRECTIONS DEPARTMENT TO INCORPORATE AND IMPLEMENT RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PROGRAMS FOR JUVENILE AND ADULT OFFENDERS AS A METHOD TO HELP HEAL VICTIMS OF CRIME, REDUCE RECIDIVISM, FACILITATE OFFENDER REINTEGRATION AND PROVIDE ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION.

     WHEREAS, crime increases fear, reduces quality of life and causes injury to victims, survivors and communities; and

     WHEREAS, while the criminal justice system prosecutes and punishes offenders, the emotional and physical damage to people and communities may often go unresolved; and

     WHEREAS, restorative justice programs seek to repair the harm caused by crime through a comprehensive and cooperative process that enables the victim, the offender and affected members of the community to be directly involved in responding to the crime; and

     WHEREAS, restorative justice is a theory of justice that is based on the common values and principles of accountability, reparation, reintegration, inclusion and effective communication; and
     WHEREAS, restorative justice programs promote healing for the victim by allowing the victim to voluntarily meet the offender, to express the impacts of the crime and to encourage the offender to take responsibility for the resulting harm; and

     WHEREAS, restorative justice rehabilitates offenders and reintegrates them into the community by providing an opportunity for the victim, the offender and community members to develop a plan to address the harm together; and

     WHEREAS, the shared responsibility in finding constructive resolutions to crime gives communities a meaningful voice in the cause and effect of crime in their communities; and

     WHEREAS, the community-centered approach of restorative justice programs can contribute to reductions in recidivism, increased compliance with restitution agreements and victim satisfaction; and

     WHEREAS, restorative justice practices can reduce costs to the criminal justice system by providing alternatives to incarceration and decreasing judicial caseloads over time;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the children, youth and families department and the corrections department be requested to incorporate and implement restorative justice programs for juvenile and adult offenders as a method to help heal victims of crime, reduce recidivism, facilitate offender reintegration and provide alternatives to incarceration; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the secretary of children, youth and families and the secretary of corrections be requested to report their progress in incorporating and implementing restorative justice programs for juvenile and adult offenders to the appropriate interim legislative committee by November 1, 2007; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of children, youth and families and the secretary of corrections.

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