HB 517

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AN ACT

RELATING TO JUVENILE JUSTICE; EXPANDING THE PURPOSE OF THE

DELINQUENCY ACT.

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

Section 1. Section 32A-2-1 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1993,

Chapter 77, Section 30) is amended to read:

"32A-2-1. SHORT TITLE.--Chapter 32A, Article 2 NMSA

1978 may be cited as the "Delinquency Act"."

Section 2. Section 32A-2-2 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1993,

Chapter 77, Section 31, as amended) is amended to read:

"32A-2-2. PURPOSE OF ACT.--The purpose of the

Delinquency Act is:

A. consistent with the protection of the public

interest, to remove from children committing delinquent acts

the adult consequences of criminal behavior, but to still hold

children committing delinquent acts accountable for their

actions to the extent of the child's age, education, mental

and physical condition, background and all other relevant

factors, and to provide a program of supervision, care and

rehabilitation, including rehabilitative restitution by the

child to the victims of the child's delinquent act to the

extent that the child is reasonably able to do so;

B. to provide effective deterrents to acts of

juvenile delinquency, including an emphasis on community-based

alternatives;

C. to strengthen families and to successfully

reintegrate children into homes and communities;

D. to foster and encourage collaboration between

government agencies and communities with regard to juvenile

justice policies and procedures;

E. to develop juvenile justice policies and

procedures that are supported by data;

F. to develop objective risk assessment

instruments to be used for admission to juvenile detention

centers;

G. to encourage efficient processing of cases;

H. to develop community-based alternatives to

detention;

I. to eliminate or reduce disparities based upon

race or gender;

J. to improve conditions of confinement in

juvenile detention centers; and

K. to achieve reductions in the number of warrants

issued, the number of probation violations and the number of

youth awaiting placements."

HB 517

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