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A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE SECRETARY OF CORRECTIONS TO CONVENE A TASK

FORCE TO IMPLEMENT AND DESIGN EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS FOR THE

FEMALE POPULATION IN THE CORRECTIONS SYSTEM.

WHEREAS, pursuant to Senate Joint Memorial 48 passed by

the 2002 legislature, the corrections department developed a

task force to examine issues relating to female inmates and

their increasing incarceration and recidivism rates; and

WHEREAS, the task force was directed to review

classification policies and procedures; the use of

administrative segregation; policies and procedures for

protecting female inmates from sexual assault and harassment;

adequacy of medical and mental health services; and policies

and procedures concerning parole and discharge planning for

female inmates; and

WHEREAS, the task force found that women are profoundly

different from men in the criminal justice arena and have

different pathways to crime that result from childhood and

adult abuse, trauma, mental health issues and severe substance

abuse; and

WHEREAS, the task force found that women have different

offense patterns from men, different life and family

circumstances, different learning and communication styles and

different needs and strengths and thus require different

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services, treatment and environments for their rehabilitation;

and

WHEREAS, national research shows that women in

correctional facilities have fewer major misconduct reports

than men and that misconduct by women is generally much less

serious than misconduct by men; and

WHEREAS, the task force found that sexual misconduct by

correctional staff is a significant and hidden problem in

female correctional facilities at the national level and

requires further evaluation in New Mexico; and

WHEREAS, the task force found great potential for

improvement in the treatment and rehabilitation of women

inmates if New Mexico embraces the national research on the

differences between female and male inmates and implements the

national guidelines for gender-responsive facilities and

services; and

WHEREAS, the task force resolved to take immediate and

long-term actions to address its findings on how to more

effectively rehabilitate women inmates and respond to issues

specific to women in the corrections system; and

WHEREAS, many of the actions proposed by the task force

have not been implemented;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF

REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the secretary

of corrections assemble a task force consisting of the warden

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of the New Mexico women's correctional facility in Grants, the

warden of the Camino Nuevo correctional center,

representatives from the corrections corporation of America,

correctional medical services, the adult probation and parole

division of the corrections department, the children, youth

and families department, the New Mexico women's justice

project, the commission on the status of women, the

archdiocese of Santa Fe, the judiciary, central New Mexico

community college, a rape crisis center, the New Mexico

district attorneys association, community practitioners in

behavioral health and substance abuse treatment, former women

inmates who have completed their sentences, including any

probation or parole, and other interested and appropriate

parties to implement the recommendations of the Senate Joint

Memorial 48 task force; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force review the

environment, programs, services, policies and procedures at

the two female correctional facilities, including intake,

classification, screening and assessment, discharge planning,

vocational skill development, mental health, behavioral health

and substance abuse services, interpersonal violence and

trauma, parenting and family connections, visitation, gender-

informed training protocols, staff training, sexual misconduct

and compliance with the federal Prison Rape Elimination Act of

2003; and

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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force assist in

implementing the recommendations of the national institute of

corrections and work with a representative of the institute,

if feasible; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force encourage

community collaborations and partnerships to create innovative

and unique solutions for the female inmate population and to

improve the readiness of women to reintegrate back into their

communities; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that members of the task force

report to the appropriate interim legislative committee during

the 2008 interim on the progress of the task force; the

implementation of recommendations made by the 2002 Senate

Joint Memorial 48 task force and of the national guidelines

for gender-responsive facilities and services; and any further

findings, recommendations and solutions that may be effective

for the female prison population; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be

transmitted to the secretary of corrections, the warden of the

women's correctional facility in Grants, the warden of the

Camino Nuevo correctional center, the corrections corporation

of America, the secretary of children, youth and families, the

administrative office of the courts, the second judicial

district attorney, the New Mexico women's justice project, the

commission on the status of women, the archdiocese of Santa Fe

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and central New Mexico community college.