46th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2003

RELATING TO CORRECTIONS; CREATING A TASK FORCE TO EXAMINE ISSUES REGARDING THE INCARCERATION OF FEMALE INMATES, CONDUCT A STUDY AND PROVIDE TRAINING; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

Section 1. TEMPORARY PROVISION--CORRECTIONS TASK FORCE--MEMBERSHIP--PURPOSE--REPORT.--

A. The secretary of corrections shall develop a task force to examine issues regarding the incarceration of female inmates, to conduct studies and to provide training. The task force shall consist of:

(1) the warden of the women's correctional facility in Grants;

(2) a representative of the corrections corporation of America;

(3) a representative of the women's justice project, incorporated;

(4) a representative of the public defender department;

(5) a district court judge;

(6) a representative of the office of health services in the corrections department;

(7) a representative of the classification office in the corrections department;

(8) the division director for probation and parole in the corrections department; and

(9) the mental health director of the women's correctional facility in Grants.

B. The secretary of corrections shall designate a chair for the task force. Members of the task force may be reimbursed for per diem, mileage and expenses as provided in the Per Diem and Mileage Act by filing vouchers with the corrections department or with their own respective department.

C. The task force shall assess and evaluate:

(1) the classification system for female inmates and the use of gender-based criteria and needs assessments;

(2) the policies and procedures pertaining to sexual assault and harassment issues in the women's prison;

(3) the adequacy of medical services and gender needs;

(4) the adequacy of mental health and substance abuse and addiction treatment services;

(5) practices, policies and procedures for reintegration and community reentry, both in the prison and as part of parole; and

(6) gender-based differences in the use of discipline and administrative segregation.

D. The task force shall provide training on gender-based corrections issues for criminal justice system professionals, stakeholders and for others who may request the training.

E. The task force shall update the recidivism study conducted in 2001 and present the study to the house and senate judiciary committees.

F. The task force may contract with outside experts and specialists to conduct the studies, evaluations and training set forth in this section.

G. Staff for the task force shall be provided by the corrections department.

H. The task force shall present a report to the interim legislative committee on corrections oversight no later than November 2003.

Section 2. APPROPRIATION.--Fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) is appropriated from the tobacco settlement program fund to the corrections department for expenditure in fiscal year 2004 to support the work of the task force. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2004 shall revert to the tobacco settlement program fund.