HOUSE MEMORIAL 118

52nd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2015

INTRODUCED BY

Eliseo Lee Alcon

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE CORRECTIONS DEPARTMENT TO FORM A TASK FORCE TO STUDY THE TRAUMA EXPERIENCED BY CORRECTIONS PERSONNEL AND OTHERS DURING THE 1980 RIOT AT THE PENITENTIARY OF NEW MEXICO, TO DETERMINE APPROPRIATE COMPENSATION, TO PROPOSE POLICIES FOR ADMINISTRATION OF THAT COMPENSATION AND TO STUDY PRESENT-DAY OCCUPATIONAL STRESSORS UNIQUE TO EMPLOYMENT IN CORRECTIONS FACILITIES.

     WHEREAS, on February 2 and 3, 1980, the inmates at the penitentiary of New Mexico rioted, took over most of the facility and held fourteen corrections personnel as hostages; and

     WHEREAS, the two days that the inmates were in control of the penitentiary of New Mexico were characterized by extreme brutality; thirty-three inmates were killed, over two hundred inmates were injured and seven corrections personnel were physically tortured or injured; and

     WHEREAS, the corrections personnel who were present during the 1980 prison riot may be suffering from or may have suffered from posttraumatic stress disorder as a result of their experiences during the riot; and

     WHEREAS, in addition to corrections personnel, members of the national guard of New Mexico, the New Mexico state police division of the department of public safety and other law enforcement officers and emergency personnel who were first responders at the scene of the prison riot may be suffering from or may have suffered from posttraumatic stress disorder as a result of their role in responding to the crisis; and

     WHEREAS, those who have survived that trauma and live with posttraumatic stress disorder may need access to a range of behavioral health care services; and

     WHEREAS, those who have been impacted by traumatic experiences suffered during the 1980 prison riot or their families may be eligible for compensation; and

     WHEREAS, the legislature recognizes the circumstances that led to these events and the failure to compensate for the negative impacts the riot had on those individuals involved in responding to this crisis; and

     WHEREAS, the legislature recognizes that the corrections department is committed to learning from mistakes of the past and is working to create a departmental culture based in respect and dignity for all those assigned to the department's care and influence; and

     WHEREAS, unique stress factors are inherent in the jobs of corrections personnel within correctional facilities, particularly for personnel tasked with daily contact with inmates; and

     WHEREAS, finding ways to minimize the impact of those stress factors is critical to creating a safe environment for inmates and corrections personnel;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the corrections department be requested to convene a task force to:

          A. identify the potential class of persons who were present during the riot or participated in crisis response efforts during the aftermath of the riot that occurred from February 2 to February 4, 1980 and who should receive compensation;

          B. establish policies and procedures for administering the compensation;

          C. study occupational stressors relating to work in New Mexico's correctional facilities; and

          D. propose policies and programs that could be implemented to mitigate those occupational stressors; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force include at least three professionals with knowledge of best practices relating to employee wellness in a correctional setting, such as critical incident stress debriefing; at least one representative each from the corrections department, the national guard of New Mexico, the New Mexico state police division of the department of public safety and the attorney general's office; and any other persons appointed by the corrections department; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force present a report containing its findings and recommendations to the New Mexico legislative council and to the legislative finance committee prior to November 30, 2015; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the governor, the secretary of corrections, the adjutant general of the national guard of New Mexico, the attorney general and the chief of the New Mexico state police.

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