WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall today applauded a spending bill working its way through the Senate that contains $3.5 million for New Mexico projects to support at-risk youth, reduce recidivism, and cut crime across the state.
The Senate's version of the fiscal year 2011 Commerce, Justice and Science bill has cleared the Senate Appropriations Committee and is now ready for full Senate consideration.
The measure contains more than $1.1 million in funding for projects requested by the senators to assist at-risk youth across New Mexico, including $200,000 for Big Brothers Big Sisters to expand mentoring services to low-income, rural, Hispanic and Native youth statewide, and $500,000 for early intervention services for at-risk youth through the New Mexico Juvenile Justice Continuum.
"This spending bill invests in New Mexico's youth and supports important law enforcement initiatives throughout the state. We will work to ensure this funding will remain in place as this bill continues to work its way through Congress," Bingaman said.
"If we can steer at-risk New Mexico youth toward a positive path, we open doors to opportunity that will allow them to reach for their dreams," Udall said. "These programs give at-risk teens and young adults help when they need it most."
The bill also would fund completion of the third phase of the Doña Ana County Simulcast Radio Initiative, which will coordinate and improve the responses of multiple agencies responsible for emergency services.
The Commerce, Justice and Science appropriations bill contains the following:
$200,000 - Big Brothers Big Sisters New Mexico Consortium: Funding would be used statewide to expand mentoring services to 200 additional at-risk children and youth not currently being served, with a focus on low-income, rural, Hispanic and Native American youth.
$200,000 - Border Area Mental Health Services, Jail Diversion Program in Silver City: Funding would be used to provide outpatient behavioral services designed to prevent recidivism of offenders by providing them with therapy, medication regulation, and assistance in establishing life goals.
$200,000 - Incarceration Alternatives for Troubled Teens in Roswell: Funding would be used by the Chaves County Comprehensive Strategy Board to provide cost-effective services and temporary, non-secure alternatives to detention for juveniles arrested or referred to the Juvenile Probation and Parole Office or at risk of such referral within Chaves County.
$250,000 - New Mexico Administrative Office of the Courts, Drug Court Program: Funding would be used to standardize the drug court database, perform on-site evaluations of each program, and provide increased resources for programs where need is greatest.
$250,000 - New Mexico Corrections Department, Prisoner Reentry Program: Funding would be used to hire staff, increase staff training and professional development, evolve the department's current risk and needs assessment pilot project, and build sustainable intensive case management structures.
$650,000 - New Mexico Department of Public Safety (DPS), Auto Theft Prevention Initiative: Funding would be used by DPS, which is based in Santa Fe, to develop and manage an auto-theft task force to address the high rate of stolen vehicles in the State.
$200,000 - Men Engaged In Nonviolence (MEN), Crime Prevention Initiative in Taos: Funding would be used to implement prevention and support services to empower individuals to lead lives of nonviolence. The project will be evaluated by the University of New Mexico School of Medicine's Prevention Research Center.
$200,000 - New Mexico State University (NMSU), Science, Engineering, Mathematics, and Aerospace Academy (SEMAA): Funding would be used for SEMAA to continue to engage historically underrepresented youth in activities in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
$500,000 - New Mexico Juvenile Justice Continuum Initiative: Funding would be used to provide early intervention services and graduated sanctions for at-risk youth in 15 counties and cities across the state.
$500,000 - Doña Ana County Simulcast Radio Initiative: Funding would be used to complete phase three of the project to develop a stronger, more coordinated dispatch system for area law enforcement, emergency medical services and fire services. Phase three will improve the simulcast of emergencies so that all emergency agencies can respond and assist.
$200,000 - New Mexico Sheriff and Police Athletic League, Gang Prevention-Intervention Program and Health Mentorship Program: Funding would be used to assist at-risk youth by providing educational and recreational opportunities that foster a positive relationship between law enforcement and youth.
$150,000 - Sandoval County Restorative Justice Program in Bernalillo: Funding would be used to expand the program, which focuses on victim compensation and offender accountability.
