44TH LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - FIRST SESSION, 1999

REQUESTING A STUDY TO REVIEW CORRECTIONS POLICIES REGARDING WOMEN.

WHEREAS, the number of women in New Mexico's prison population has steadily increased during the past ten years; and

WHEREAS, one reason for the increase in the female prison population is the high rate of recidivism among female offenders; and

WHEREAS, female offenders in the corrections system have limited access to vocational and educational programs, treatment services, family services and reintegration programs; and

WHEREAS, because of the recent increase in the female prison population, female corrections facilities are overcrowded; and

WHEREAS, a study of corrections policies regarding women will provide the legislature with the information it needs to make informed decisions;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that it request the secretary of corrections, a representative of corrections corporation of America, the president of the district judges association, the attorney general, the president of the district attorneys association, the chief public defender, a former female inmate selected by the director of the women's law center, the director of the women's law center, the director of the New Mexico center on law and poverty, the director of the New Mexico council on crime and delinquency and the director of the American civil liberties union to meet during the 1999 interim and study corrections polices regarding women, including corrections facility planning, inmate population issues, security and safety issues for female inmates and the availability of vocational and educational programs, treatment services, family services and reintegration programs; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the results of the study be presented to the legislative finance committee and an interim legislative committee with jurisdiction over corrections issues no later than October 31, 1999; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be sent to the secretary of corrections, a representative of corrections corporation of America, the president of the district judges association, the attorney general, the president of the district attorneys association, the chief public defender, a former female inmate selected by the director of the women's law center, the director of the women's law center, the director of the New Mexico center on law and poverty, the director of the New Mexico council on crime and delinquency and the director of the American civil liberties union.