REQUESTING THAT THE CORRECTIONS DEPARTMENT DEVELOP A TASK FORCE TO EXAMINE ISSUES REGARDING THE INCARCERATION OF FEMALE INMATES AND REPORT ITS FINDINGS TO AN APPROPRIATE INTERIM COMMITTEE.

WHEREAS, the female inmate population continues to increase, as it approaches six hundred inmates at the women's correctional facility in Grants; and

WHEREAS, recidivism rates for female inmates are also on the rise, driven principally by drug use and drug addiction; and

WHEREAS, in order to address increasing incarceration and recidivism rates, it is advisable that there be a review of policies, procedures, services and programs attendant to the incarceration of female inmates; and

WHEREAS, the review should include consideration of classification policies and procedures, the use of administration segregation, policies and procedures for protecting female inmates from sexual assault and harassment, adequacy of medical and mental health services and policies and procedures concerning parole planning for female inmates;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the corrections department be requested to develop a task force to examine issues set forth in this memorial regarding the incarceration of female inmates; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the warden of the women's correctional facility in Grants, a representative of corrections corporation of America, a representative of the New Mexico women's justice project, incorporated, a representative of the office of the attorney general, a representative of the public defender department, a district court judge, a representative of the office of health services of the corrections department and a representative of the classification office of the corrections department be invited to participate on the task force; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force prepare a written report of its findings and report its findings to an appropriate legislative interim committee prior to November 1, 2002; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be

transmitted to the warden of the women's correctional

facility in Grants, corrections corporation of America, the

New Mexico women's justice project, incorporated, the

attorney general, the chief public defender, the district

judge's association and the secretary of corrections.