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

FOR THE LEGISLATIVE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES DEPARTMENT TO INSTITUTE A MORATORIUM ON ADDITIONAL JUVENILE CORRECTIONS INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY, REDUCE THE NUMBER OF YOUTHS IN CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES AND REDIRECT FUNDS FROM INSTITUTIONAL TO COMMUNITY-BASED CARE.

WHEREAS, within the last five years, a fifty-bed juvenile correctional facility was constructed in Dona Ana county, and a one-hundred-bed juvenile correctional facility was constructed in Albuquerque to serve very troubled and aggressive youth; and

WHEREAS, within the last two years, the children, youth and families department has closed two reintegration facilities for troubled youths; and

WHEREAS, those measures suggest that New Mexico has adequate inpatient capacity to serve the most troubled and unstable youths in need of services; and

WHEREAS, the incidence of delinquency among youths has been reduced both nationally and in New Mexico for the last five years; and

WHEREAS, it has been demonstrated that children who do not pose a threat to themselves or society can be best served in community-based programs and facilities; and

WHEREAS, the New Mexico boys' school at Springer has a long and problematic history in hiring and retaining professional and other qualified staff to properly care for the boys at the facility; and

WHEREAS, the result of professional staff shortages is a non-therapeutic and unsafe environment for the boys;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the children, youth and families department be requested to impose a moratorium on additional juvenile correctional institutional capacity and redirect funds from institutional to community-based care; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the department seek to reduce the number of children in correctional facilities and emphasize community-based, positive youth development, prevention, diversion and rehabilitation efforts; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the general services department be requested to conduct a study and make recommendations on alternative use for the New Mexico boys' school in Springer; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the children, youth and families department and the general services department make a report to the interim legislative health and human services committee at its September 2003 meeting; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the children, youth and families department, the general services department, various statewide organizations involved in advocacy for children and the interim legislative health and human services committee.