Safer New Mexico

The state legislature has passed one crime bill

but it doesn't go far enough.

We still need reforms to give judges, DAs and mental health professionals more options to detain – and when necessary, treat for addiction and mental health – potentially dangerous suspects. And we need to increase penalties for felons who illegally possess firearms that often end up in the hands of kids and teens.

It's time

for politicians to finally take action on behalf of all New Mexicans.

It’s time to pass reforms that give judges and district attorneys the tools they need to keep repeat offenders off the street, toughen penalties on illegal firearms, and crack down on human trafficking and dangerous gangs.

It's time

For commonsense reforms that begin to address the problems we’re having now, while upholding New Mexico’s commitment to civil rights and working towards long-term solutions to endemic issues like mental health and homelessness.

It's time

for lawmakers to support the Safer New Mexico Action Plan.

Priorities for the Safer New Mexico Action Plan:

Keep Dangerous Criminals off the street

Give Judges & DAs the tools they need to keep repeat offenders behind bars or in treatment

New Mexico’s criminal justice system has become a revolving door for dangerous criminals, with suspects in violent crimes released back into our communities, sometimes within hours of their arrest. The Safer New Mexico Action Plan would give judges, DAs and mental health professionals more options to detain – and when necessary, treat for addiction and mental health – potentially dangerous suspects.

It’s time for commonsense, bipartisan proposals like these to actually start solving New Mexico’s crime problem.

Click here to read more about H.B. 4, S.B. 196, and S.B. 166:

House Bill 4 Criminal Competency & Treatment – Currently, the law allows dangerous criminals who are deemed “incompetent to stand trial” to be released from corrections or mental health custody without so much as a slap on the wrist. HB 4 gives judges, district attorneys and mental health professionals far greater options to keep dangerous individuals behind bars or in treatment, instead of sending them back into our communities.

Senate Bill 196 Rebuttable Presumption Against Release – SB 196 reforms New Mexico laws so that suspects accused of first degree murder, the human trafficking of children, and other serious, violent felonies would be far less likely to go free on bail, or supervised release prior to their trials.

Senate Bill 166 Harm to Self & Others Definition – SB 166 would clarify how the mental health professionals in New Mexico decide if a person is a possible harm to themselves or to others. If a person is a danger to themselves or others, they may be subjected to involuntary commitment or outpatient treatment.

Increase penalties for illegal guns

It’s time to to toughen penalties for felons who illegally possess firearms that often end up in the hands of kids and teens

We can respect civil rights and protect the right of every  family to live safely, the right of small businesses to conduct commerce securely and the right of our children to grow up in communities free from danger.

It’s time for commonsense proposals that will help keep our kids and teens safe.

Click here to read more about H.B. 166 and S.B. 253:

HB 166 Felon in Possession of Firearm Penalties – House Bill 166 (HB 166) increases the penalty for a felon in possession of a firearm or destructive device to five years imprisonment, creates the second-degree felony for a felon in possession of a firearm or destructive device for a second or subsequent offense, and increases the penalty for a serious violent felon in possession of a firearm or destructive device to a second-degree felony.

SB 253 Felons in Possession of a Firearm – This legislation increases penalties for felons and serious violent felons found in possession of a firearm, making them guilty of a second-degree felony with longer prison sentences. It also ensures that individuals convicted of firearm or destructive device possession under this law are ineligible for earned meritorious deductions from their sentences.

Cracking down on human trafficking and dangerous gangs

Human trafficking - especially the exploitation of minors - is a serious crime and it deserves to be treated as such under New Mexico law.

The Safer New Mexico Action Plan would reform our laws to protect and offer justice to victims of human trafficking, and make it easier for prosecutors to go after the dangerous gangs that are profiting from crime and exploitation.

It’s time to pass these commonsense reforms on behalf of the victims of human trafficking and sexual exploitation.

Click here to read more about H.B. 86 and S.B. 70:

House Bill 86 Human Trafficking Changes – HB 86 strengthens New Mexico’s existing human trafficking laws to provide tougher penalties for traffickers, as well as new protections for victims. It would allow victims to seek justice no matter how much time as passed, and it would make it harder for convicted traffickers to get out of prison for “good behavior”.

Senate Bill 70 Add Racketeering Crimes – SB 70 makes it easier to go after dangerous gangs and their leadership by changing current law to include sex crimes against children, dog fighting and other heinous crimes in the state Racketeering law.

Hold violent juvenile offenders accountable

Reform New Mexico’s laws to improve juvenile justice

Too often, dangerous juveniles are arrested and released with little or no consequences, leaving communities at risk. The Safer New Mexico Action Plan supports reforms that give courts stronger tools to hold offenders accountable and close the revolving door.

It’s time for reforms that tackle the spike in juvenile crime.

Click here to read more about H.B. 255:

House Bill 25 – “Rename Juvenile Corrections Act” introduces targeted changes to supervised release, community-based rehabilitation programs, and support for at-risk youth to improve outcomes and reduce recidivism.

Strengthens consequences for absconding by allowing courts to “pause” supervised release if a juvenile flees, ensuring accountability and expands funding for youth intervention programs, offering more services to at-risk youth before they enter the justice system.

By focusing on accountability, rehabilitation, and long-term support, HB 255 takes a holistic approach to public safety—helping young offenders turn their lives around while keeping communities safe.