Ben Ray Luján

12/11/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 12/11/2024 12:26

N.M. Delegation Welcomes $3.4 Million to Solve Crime, Keep Communities Safe & Support Survivor Services

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), and U.S. Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.), Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), and Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) are welcoming $3,392,905 from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to help New Mexico's law enforcement solve crimes, support survivor services, improve violence prevention, and keep communities safe.

The grants all come from the Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program and will be distributed from the DOJ's Office of Justice Programs (OJP).

"To tackle crime and make our communities safer, we need to better equip our law enforcement officers and prosecutors as they work to solve and prevent crimes, while also supporting survivors of violent crime as they grapple with the very real impacts of what they've experienced," said Heinrich. "I'm proud to welcome these federal resources that will both support survivors of violent crime and hold dangerous criminals accountable."

"With this $3.4 million in federal funding, New Mexico's law enforcement agencies will be equipped with the resources needed to keep our communities safe and support victims of crimes," said Luján. "Across our state, law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every day to keep us safe, and I'm proud to welcome this funding to help them do their jobs. I will continue to fight for federal resources to keep New Mexico communities safe."

"Across my district, from Clovis, to Hobbs to Farmington, we are delivering $3.4 million in funds to help our law enforcement professionals solve crimes faster, protect themselves as they confront violent criminal encounters, and keep people safe during high-speed chases," said Leger Fernández.

"It's vital that our communities feel safe and protected," said Stansbury. "This $3.4 million will help provide law enforcement with the tools to address crime, protect victims, and keep New Mexico safe. Our law enforcement and first responders put their lives on the line to protect New Mexicans, and I'm grateful for this funding."

"This $3.4 million investment is a critical step towards strengthening public safety in our communities," said Vasquez. "By supporting crime prevention efforts and providing vital resources for survivors, we're ensuring that justice is within reach. Our law enforcement officers and community organizations work tirelessly to ensure our safety, and I'm committed to fighting for the federal support they need."

Recipient Grant Program Amount Description
Second Judicial District Attorney's Office Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) - Local $1,500,000 This funding will help to implement the Second Judicial District Attorney's Office Sexual Assault Kit Initiative Program. The purpose is to help maintain local, state, and community partners; improve systems and services to effectively address the Sexual Assault Examination Kit backlog; support victims; and prosecute sexual assault cold cases.
City of Las Cruces Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) - Local $69,882 This project aims to enhance community safety by focusing on two critical areas: the well-being of emergency responders and the protection of families residing in high-crime neighborhoods.
City of Albuquerque Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) - Local $633,240 These funds will help to equip Albuquerque Police Department (APD) personnel with equipment and supplies necessary to successfully serve the citizens of the City of Albuquerque and its surrounding areas.
City of Rio Rancho Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) - Local $27,723 Over the last three years, the use of LPRs and their related technology has been a beneficial tool to assist the Department in ensuring the protection and safety of our community through the highest standards of professionalism and excellence in police services. Moving forward, the goal is to increase the number of cameras pointing in alternate directions to increase the likelihood of thwarting further crime within the City.
City of Farmington Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) - Local $54,638 The Farmington Police Department (FPD) is seeking equipment specifically designed to de-escalate high-risk vehicle events and prevent unnecessary injury, property damage, loss of life and improve identification and prosecution of dangerous drivers.
Valencia County Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) - Local $15,048 The Valencia County Sheriff's Office will use JAG funds to purchase Tough Book Computers for New Hired Deputies. The number of sworn deputies increased from 44 to 51 in fiscal year 2024 and a total of 4 Tough Book Computers will be purchased with allocated funds.
City of Clovis Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) - Local $18,375 This proposal will be for the city of Clovis and the Curry County Sheriff's Office to utilize the grant funding to purchase new and updated video recording equipment. The equipment will include video recording devices for police vehicles and body-worn cameras. The intended purchase will include a total request for $25,000 which will be divided for the use by the Clovis Police Department at $12,480 and $12,520.00 to be expended by the Curry County Sheriff's Office.
City of Hobbs Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) - Local $23,930 The Hobbs Police Department will allocate $15,147 toward the purchase of five new Taser 7 handles with warranties and holsters. This will allow the department to begin phasing out current Taser 7's which are approaching warranty expiration. The Lea County Sheriff's Office will allocate $14,908.40 toward the purchase 75 Hyfin Chest Seal Twin Packs, 75 Compressed Gauze, 75 Law Enforcement Z- Fold Combat Gauze, 75 Heat Reflective Emergency Blankets, 60 IFAK Medical Packs. This equipment will assist officer safety and medical response to incidents involving trauma.
New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention - FY24 Title II Formula Grants $650,069 New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department's FY 2024 Title II Formula Grants Program will be used to support services for youth at-risk of involvement or further involvement in the Juvenile Justice System, including substance abuse and mental health services, school and after-school programs, Native American tribe programs, and community-based programs and services. Funds will also support the State Advisory Group and compliance monitoring activities.
University of New Mexico National Institute of Justice - FY24 Field-Initiated Action Research Partnerships $400,000 The University of New Mexico, in partnership with (De)Serving Life, propose to examine parole decision making, juvenile lifer reentry, and juvenile sentencing in New Mexico following the passage of the No Life Sentences for Juveniles Act (2023). Using the action research model, the present research aims to improve parole and reentry for individuals sentenced to life or long sentences as juveniles in New Mexico through a broad plan of intervention and implementation evaluation. To achieve these objectives and address the associated research questions, we will 1) conduct surveys with currently and formerly incarcerated juvenile lifers; 2) conduct dynamic focus groups with our community advisory board of juvenile lifers; 3) conduct in-depth qualitative interviews with a subset of our juvenile lifer sample; 4) conduct in-depth qualitative interviews with district court judges and parole board members; and 5) judicial and parole board decision documents via content coding and natural language processing.

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