New Mexico governor plans new system to treat criminals with mental illnesses

SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) – New Mexico could get a revamped system to deal with accused criminals suffering from mental illnesses. These changes will likely be on the agenda for the next special legislative session.

“What we have is a complete reorganization of our system,” Holly Agajanian, chief general counsel for the Governor’s Office, told lawmakers at a committee meeting Monday. “It needs a complete overhaul.”

The general idea is to bring mental health treatment to people involved in the criminal justice system across the state, essentially bringing the assisted outpatient treatment type services that exist in Albuquerque to the rest of New Mexico.

Currently, the Albuquerque Court offers a court-supervised mental health treatment program, which they say results in decreased drug use, decreased violence against others, and decreased homelessness. There are also plans to revamp the civil commitment process, Agajanian said. “Ultimately, this means that each judicial district must have a full suite of comprehensive services. »

The governor’s office is also considering a “crisis stabilization” system, which would allow police officers to not arrest an individual for a crime. Instead, law enforcement could offer treatment services to the individual, Agajanian told lawmakers.

The governor’s office is also considering a pedestrian traffic safety bill. Earlier this year, a bill aimed at combating street panhandling faced constitutional questions. Today, Sen. Antoinette Sedillo Lopez (D-Aq.) said she expects similar debates over a new security bill, although officials in the governor’s office say the focus is not It’s not about begging.

Overall, lawmakers reacted hesitantly, particularly when it came to a broad reorganization of mental health interventions.

“You’re asking 112 people to make a decision in two days, and of those 112, there are maybe five who understand the intricacies of this issue,” said Rep. Alan T. Martinez (R-Sandoval). And Martinez wasn’t the only one who shared this sentiment.

“It terrifies me that we are talking about a bill that has a civil component and a criminal component and that somehow in a special session we are going to look at those elements and get them right. things,” Rep. Micaela Lara Cadena said. (D-Doña Ana) said.

Agajanian responded to concerns: “It’s just going to be a lot of work. But again, that’s why we want to get there now.

Lawmakers weren’t enthusiastic about the other proposals, either. Senator Joseph Cervantes (D-Doña Ana) pointed out that the state has repeatedly tried to solve the problem of criminals in possession of firearms. He noted that lawmakers had tried to increase penalties in previous years. And last session, they considered a bill but blocked it in a committee hearing because the penalty changes didn’t seem to “move the ball.” So, “perhaps we need to ask ourselves a slightly more difficult question: whether this is really the solution,” Cervantes said.