HOUSE MEMORIAL 54

47th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2006

INTRODUCED BY

Al Park

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE CORRECTIONS DEPARTMENT TO ESTABLISH THE CAMINO NUEVO COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER PROVISION OF GENDER-SPECIFIC TREATMENT AND PROGRAMS FOR WOMEN AT THE CAMINO NUEVO CORRECTIONAL FACILITY.

     WHEREAS, the corrections department is opening the camino nuevo correctional facility for women in Albuquerque; and

     WHEREAS, the rate of recidivism for women released from New Mexico correctional facilities is unacceptably high; and

     WHEREAS, women have different health and behavioral issues than men and respond differently to institutional treatment and to transition and reintegration programs than do men; and

     WHEREAS, there is a need for transition and reintegration treatment and services and continuation of care that is gender-specific for women at the camino nuevo correctional facility; and

     WHEREAS, there is a need for community involvement in establishing good gender-specific reintegration and transition services;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the corrections department be requested to create a camino nuevo community advisory committee to study strategies to provide gender-specific treatment to women while at the camino nuevo correctional facility and to provide gender-specific transition and reintegration services to women upon their release from the camino nuevo correctional facility; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the corrections department be requested to appoint to the committee two corrections department representatives, two representatives from the entity operating the camino nuevo corrections facility, one representative from the New Mexico women's justice project, one representative from the labor department, one clinical psychologist or licensed professional counselor, one licensed social worker, two representatives from community providers with relevant experience related to gender-specific treatment, one representative from the commission on the status of women and three additional members of the committee selected by a majority of the other members of the committee; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the corrections department be requested to report the committee's findings to the appropriate interim legislative committee by December 1, 2006; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of corrections.

- 3 -