SENATE MEMORIAL 12

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

INTRODUCED BY

Mary Jane M. Garcia

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE CORRECTIONS DEPARTMENT TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF LIFETIME ELECTRONIC MONITORING OF SEX OFFENDERS.

     WHEREAS, recognizing the benefits to society of knowing the whereabouts of convicted sex offenders, the state has implemented a registry of sex offenders; and

     WHEREAS, keeping current on the location of a sex offender is not possible when the sex offender is permitted to move and only later notify local law enforcement officials of the move; and

     WHEREAS, technology has improved to the extent that electronic monitoring of many convicted felons can be helpful for purposes of probation and parole; and

     WHEREAS, electronic monitoring of sex offenders may be a wise financial and policy decision; and

     WHEREAS, electronic monitoring may include global positioning so that law enforcement officials can be aware at all times of the location of a sex offender who is subject to registration; and

     WHEREAS, members of the public are better able to protect themselves by knowing when a sex offender is in the neighborhood and when law enforcement is better able to provide current information by electronic monitoring;  

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the department of public safety and the corrections department be requested to study the financial and policy implications of instituting an electronic monitoring system for convicted sex offenders, including the wisdom of lifetime monitoring, the classes of sex offenders subject to monitoring and the ability of the departments to monitor sex offenders, and to submit a joint report of the study's findings to the courts, corrections and justice committee at the committee's October 2006 meeting; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the secretaries of public safety and corrections.

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