Serious violent offenders serving long sentences
The New Mexico Sentencing Commission has released its annual report to the State Legislature on the average length of prison sentences for serious violent offenders.
Under the Earned Meritorious Deduction/Truth in Sentencing law passed in 1999, serious violent offenders must serve at least 85 percent of their sentences. Above that threshold, offenders can earn sentence deductions for activities such as completing an educational, vocational, substance abuse or mental health program.
The report, authored by Paul Guerin, Ph.D., of the NMSC and University of New Mexico Institute for Social Research, shows that serious violent offenders released between July 1, 2003 and June 30, 2004 had served, on average, about 89 percent of their sentences. The law, as intended, keeps violent offenders in prison for longer periods.
Even with a flat crime rate, longer prison sentences compound prison population growth, the report shows. New Mexico prisons are operating at nearly 100 percent of capacity with more growth projected. The sentencing commission will work with the New Mexico Corrections Department to study the impact of Earned Meritorious Deduction on the prison population since 1999.
The commission has also published updated versions of its New Mexico Criminal Justice Resource Directory and New Mexico Juvenile Justice Program Inventory.
“These directories continue to be an invaluable resource for anyone working in the criminal or juvenile justice field, as well as to legislators and their constituents, who need ready access to criminal or juvenile justice agencies or other service providers,” said Joe Caldwell, commission chair.
The New Mexico Criminal Justice Resource Directory is a comprehensive catalog of local, state, tribal and federal criminal and juvenile justice contacts for New Mexico. Listings include agencies, programs and services in law enforcement, courts, corrections, human services, juvenile, research and other topical areas.
The New Mexico Juvenile Justice Program Inventory is a statewide catalog of programs available to juveniles needing services. Each listing includes information such as program name, contact information, description, ages served, capacity, funding, and Children, Youth ad Family Department (CYFD) contacts.
Commission reports, printed directories and information are available to the public at http://www.nmsc.state.nm.us . The Web site receives more than 50,000 hits per month from those in New Mexico government and private citizens.
The New Mexico Sentencing Commission consists of judges, cabinet members and other experts in the criminal justice field. The commission provides information, analysis, recommendations and assistance to the three branches of government and to interested citizens.
During the past twelve months, the commission, which includes the Sex Offender Management Board, has held more than 60 public meetings and has published numerous research reports on topics including sex offenders, DWI, methamphetamines and juvenile parole boards.
Contact: Laurie Mellas Ramirez, (505) 277-5915
Posted by scarr at January 6, 2005 02:10 PM