HM 21

Page 1

A MEMORIAL

ENCOURAGING LEGISLATIVE SUPPORT FOR THE CREATION OF A

METHAMPHETAMINE PROSECUTION UNIT IN THE SECOND JUDICIAL

DISTRICT THAT WILL SERVE AS A MODEL FOR DISTRICT ATTORNEYS AND

LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN NEW MEXICO'S RURAL COMMUNITIES

THAT ARE STRUGGLING TO FIGHT METHAMPHETAMINE-RELATED CRIMES

AND OFFENDERS.

WHEREAS, methamphetamine is rapidly becoming the local

drug of choice in New Mexico's communities and is having an

overwhelming impact on local law enforcement and the criminal

justice system; and

WHEREAS, methamphetamine is a criminal-lifestyle drug

and fuels a broad range of felony criminal activity, including

automobile theft, forgery, credit-card fraud, identity theft,

mail theft, burglary and shoplifting; and

WHEREAS, local gangs are becoming involved in the

distribution of methamphetamine, and methamphetamine offenders

are becoming the most prolific repeat offenders in the

criminal justice system; and

WHEREAS, to combat the growing number of methamphetamine

rings and repeat offenders, law enforcement agencies and

district attorneys in communities across New Mexico need to

develop effective ways of sharing information and prioritizing

prosecution efforts; and

HM 21

Page 2

WHEREAS, in 2005, the second judicial district attorney,

realizing the need for improved communication and information

sharing between law enforcement agencies and district

attorneys, began holding regular meetings with local law

enforcement agencies in Bernalillo, Valencia, Sandoval and

Torrance counties to target the methamphetamine epidemic; and

WHEREAS, the second judicial district attorney also

initiated communication with federal law enforcement agencies,

including the United States postal inspection service and the

secret service, on the methamphetamine problem; and

WHEREAS, based on input from law enforcement agencies,

the second judicial district attorney developed the ability to

focus on those repeat offenders linked to methamphetamine-

related crimes who are causing the most damage to the

community and who are worthy of higher priority prosecution

efforts; and

WHEREAS, in order to effectively handle the growing

caseload of methamphetamine offenders, the second judicial

district attorney seeks to establish a methamphetamine

prosecution unit that works with law enforcement in

identifying methamphetamine repeat offenders and screening,

expediting and prosecuting methamphetamine-related cases; and

WHEREAS, the second judicial district attorney has

requested funding from the New Mexico legislature in 2006 for

the additional attorneys, paralegals and secretaries needed to

HM 21

Page 3

maximize the prosecution efforts of its methamphetamine

prosecution unit; and

WHEREAS, the second judicial district attorney's

methamphetamine prosecution unit and its innovative methods of

networking with law enforcement agencies can serve as a model

for rural communities in New Mexico that are struggling to

fight methamphetamine-related crimes and offenders; and

WHEREAS, by collaborating with district attorneys in

rural areas of New Mexico, the second judicial district

attorney can serve as a catalyst for improved cooperation

between law enforcement agencies and district attorneys that

can result in reducing the harmful impacts of methamphetamine

on New Mexico's communities;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF

REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the

legislature support the creation of a methamphetamine

prosecution unit in the second judicial district that will

serve as a model for district attorneys and law enforcement

agencies in rural areas that are struggling to fight

methamphetamine-related crimes and offenders; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the second judicial district

attorney be requested to collaborate with district attorneys

in New Mexico's rural communities in an effort to help those

areas develop effective strategies for facilitating

communication with law enforcement agencies and managing their

HM 21

Page 4

prosecution efforts against methamphetamine offenders; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the second judicial district

attorney present a report on the development and status of the

methamphetamine prosecution unit and the progress in

collaborating with New Mexico's rural communities to the

interim legislative courts, corrections and justice committee

by November 1, 2006; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be

transmitted to the second judicial district attorney and the

co-chairs of the interim legislative courts, corrections and

justice committee.