“By taking away this tool, we risk losing an important incentive for defendants to get the help they need.” By Austin Fisher, Source NM New Mexico has for decades led the nation around harm reduction policies that try to address substance use disorders without incarcerating people. Two different but related proposals to strengthen those protections […]
A bill with the backing of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham that would make it easier to detain New Mexicans accused, yet not convicted, of crimes has stalled in the Senate due to concerns it violates the state constitution.
There were more heated discussions this week during the New Mexico legislative session surrounding public safety bills, including in the debate over keeping more people accused of violent crimes in jail before their trial.
Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman, right, and Sen. Linda Lopez, D-Albuquerque, listen as members of the Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee debate a bill on rebuttable presumption for