Top criminal justice and sentencing experts will speak about the effects of criminal sentencing on resources, programs and citizens during the National Association of State Sentencing Commission’s annual conference in Santa Fe Aug. 15-19.
The organization’s newest member, the New Mexico Sentencing Commission, hosts the event. Established in early 2003 at the University of New Mexico Institute for Social Research, its charge is to study, compile and release data on the effects of criminal sentencing and to make policy recommendations to the legislature and governor in all areas of criminal and juvenile justice.
Opening and closing conference sessions will focus on responses to the recent Supreme Court decision in Blakely v. State of Washington.
“This decision has rendered some states’ sentencing guidelines unconstitutional and may result in more and longer jury trials in felony cases, even in states without sentencing guidelines such as New Mexico,” said Michael Hall, New Mexico Sentencing Commission executive director.
Conference presenters include speakers from the United States
Sentencing Commission, U.S. Attorney's Office and U.S. Public Defender's Office.
Also scheduled to speak are UNM Professor of Sociology Paul Steele, Paul Guerin, UNM Institute for Social Research; and Susan Brumbaugh, former executive director of the New Mexico Sentencing Commission, who will discuss criminal justice and sex offender research and inmate reintegration programs.
New Mexico’s 23-member bipartisan commission has representation from corrections, law enforcement, juvenile, legal, judicial and legislative agencies.
Contact: Laurie Mellas Ramirez (505) 277-5915
Posted by kwentworth at August 4, 2004 10:01 AM