HOUSE MEMORIAL 48

50th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2012

INTRODUCED BY

Mimi Stewart

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE JUVENILE JUSTICE ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO CONVENE A TASK FORCE TO DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT A PROFESSIONAL TRAINING PROGRAM FOR JUVENILE JUSTICE STAFF AND JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM STAKEHOLDERS PURSUANT TO RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE GENDER-RESPONSIVE TASK FORCE.

     WHEREAS, the statutory juvenile justice advisory committee, appointed pursuant to the federal Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974, has received federal juvenile justice and delinquency prevention funds, including funds earmarked to support young women in the New Mexico juvenile justice system; and

     WHEREAS, the juvenile justice advisory committee has recognized that services for girls must be gender-responsive, culturally sensitive and must address gender-related issues in order to be effective; and

     WHEREAS, in order to improve the lives of girls in the juvenile justice system, professional training for juvenile justice staff and juvenile justice system stakeholders is needed; and

     WHEREAS, the task force convened by the juvenile justice advisory committee will not require additional state funds;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the juvenile justice advisory committee be requested to convene a task force composed of: a member of the juvenile justice advisory committee serving on the gender subcommittee; a representative from the staff of the children, youth and families department with direct experience working with girls in the juvenile justice system; a member of the intervention team of the second judicial district girls' probation unit; a staff member from a county juvenile detention system with direct experience working with girls; a representative from the New Mexico women's justice project; a provider of gender-responsive services; and a girl who has been served by the juvenile justice system and has successfully transitioned into the community; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force be requested to design and implement a professional training program targeting juvenile justice staff and juvenile justice system stakeholders consistent with the recommendations of the juvenile justice gender-responsive task force; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the juvenile justice advisory committee be requested to report to the legislative health and human services committee by October 1, 2012 setting forth actions taken to implement the recommendations of the juvenile justice gender-responsive task force; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the children, youth and families department and to the juvenile justice advisory committee.

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