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.168240.1

HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 61

48

TH LEGISLATURE

- STATE OF NEW MEXICO -

FIRST SESSION

, 2007

INTRODUCED BY

Thomas E. Swisstack

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THAT THE NEW MEXICO SENTENCING COMMISSION RESEARCH

ISSUES RELATED TO PROVIDING ADULT PROBATION AND PAROLE SERVICES

TO OFFENDERS IN NEW MEXICO.

WHEREAS, the mission of the adult probation and parole

division of the corrections department is "to provide for

public safety through a balance of supervision, enforcement and

the provision of program services to increase the probability

of offenders becoming law-abiding citizens"; and

WHEREAS, adult probation and parole officers bear the

significant responsibility of enforcing conditions of probation

and parole for the men and women they supervise; and

WHEREAS, the officers are also responsible for helping

offenders access programs and services that support

rehabilitation and reentry to the offenders' communities; and

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WHEREAS, it is essential that the adult probation and

parole division be provided with the resources it needs to

appropriately supervise and support offenders; and

WHEREAS, public safety and rehabilitation efforts are

compromised in the absence of adequate resources for the adult

probation and parole division;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE

STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the New Mexico sentencing commission

be requested to research issues related to providing adult

probation and parole services to offenders in New Mexico; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the research conducted by the

New Mexico sentencing commission include the following issues:

A. caseloads for adult probation and parole

officers;

B. national standards for caseloads;

C. starting salaries for adult probation and parole

officers;

D. competing salaries for similar employment in New

Mexico;

E. retention of adult probation and parole

officers; and

F. the number of vacant officer positions within

the adult probation and parole division; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the New Mexico sentencing

commission report its findings to the appropriate interim

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.168240.1

legislative committee by November 30, 2007; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be

transmitted to the New Mexico legislative council, the director

of the adult probation and parole division of the corrections

department and the director of the New Mexico sentencing

commission.

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