Proposed New Judiciary Position

Proposed changes in positions:

• Rename Judiciary to be Administration of Justice
• Propose concurrence with LWV CA on Legal Services
• Move Juvenile Justice from Children and Families to Administration of Justice
• Move Death Penalty position to Administration of Justice
• Reorganize Drug Policy and Alcohol into a single Substance Abuse Policy under Social Programs

GOVERNMENT

Administration of Justice Judiciary (Adopted 1962; revised 1987, 2015) proposed rev 2017

The League of Women Voters of New Mexico supports a unified court system, adequately financed, with centralized administration and fiscal control achieved through

Selection of judges .

Selection of judges of the higher courts should be by a method similar to the American Bar Association Plan, which proposes that judges be appointed by the governor from a screened list submitted from a non-partisan nominating commission and be subject, at intervals, to election for retention or rejection.

1. adequate personnel for all courts.

Funding . (propose concurrence with LWV IL)

The League believes that the justice system must be adequately funded in order to carry out its goals. Funding of specialized programs for offenders, such as mental health services and substance abuse treatment, is essential. The League supports sufficient funding to guarantee humane prison conditions and to provide programs and services that offer the opportunity for self-improvement. The League believes that state funding should be provided for alternatives to incarceration.

There must be adequate personnel for all courts.

Alternatives to Incarceration. (propose concurrence with LWV IL)

The League supports the expansion of prevention and treatment programs to ease the burden on the criminal justice system. The League supports the concept of pretrial diversion.

The League supports development of alternatives to incarceration through community-based programs with emphasis on diversion and reintegration separate from correctional facilities. (moved from Juvenile Justice section of LWVNM position.) The League supports drug court programs alternative or therapeutic courts and pre-trial diversion programs. (sentence moved here from LWVNM Juvenile Justice position) The community must be educated regarding these alternatives (LWV IL position).

The League opposes mandatory minimum sentences for drug offenses.  In general, alternatives to imprisonment should be explored and utilized, taking into consideration the circumstances and nature of the crime. ( moved here from the LWVNM Drug Policy position)

Legal Aid. (propose concurrence with LWV CA.

The League supports an adequately funded government-supported public defender program that provides legal aid to those unable to pay.

Death Penalty (Adopted 2006) (Moved from Social Programs of LWVNM position.)

The League of Women Voters of New Mexico supports the repeal of the death penalty and the institution of a sentence of life in prison without parole as an alternative.

If the death penalty is reinstated , ( restoration of replacement for language removed following repeal of the death penalty) LWVNM supports the implementation of the recommendations in the Final Report of the State Bar of New Mexico Task Force to Study the Administration of the Death Penalty in New Mexico (January 2004) including

1. adequate defense funding for capital cases;
2. a comprehensive proportionality study, including the development of a complete database of homicide prosecutions in New Mexico;
3. higher standards for defense counsel at all stages of the proceedings;
4. allowing opponents of the death penalty to serve on the jury for the first trial (to determine guilt or innocence) in a capital case.

Juvenile Justice (moved from LWVNM Children and Families position)

• Trained and qualified judges, police, probation personnel, lawyers, providers, appointed advocates and others in the juvenile justice system.
• Local forensic diagnostic and/or evaluation services.
• Treatment programs to meet identified needs.
• Development and support of alternatives to incarceration through community-based programs with emphasis on diversion and reintegration separate from correctional facilities. (moved to Alternatives to incarceration)
• Due process and legal representation at all stages of the child's contact with the law.
• Provision of legal and safe detention accommodations for all juveniles in custody.
• Monitoring of substitute care through Citizens Review Boards and Court Appointed Special Advocates.
• Education provided for all youth in the juvenile justice system.

(Under SOCIAL PROGRAMS):

Substance Abuse Policy

Drug Policy (Adopted 1984; revised 2002, 2003, 2007, 2015)

The term “drug” is meant to include all addictive drugs, including alcohol. The League of Women Voters of New Mexico supports

1. Drug court programs; ( moved to Admin of Justice )
2. Treatment for all persons with drug addiction;
3. Syringe exchange programs in the State of New Mexico;
4. Rehabilitation programs;
5. Public education programs;
6. Close cooperation between tribal, local and state officials; and
7. Adequate funding for enforcement, rehabilitation and education programs. These programs should be prudently and appropriately funded.

The League opposes mandatory minimum sentences for drug offenses.  In general, alternatives to imprisonment should be explored and utilized, taking into consideration the circumstances and nature of the crime. (moved to Admin of Justice)

Alcohol (Adopted 2014)

The League of Women Voters of New Mexico believes that alcohol abuse is a public health issue and can be most effectively approached as such.

To address the impact of alcohol abuse, the League supports the following:

• raising taxes on the sale of alcohol. Research has shown increasing taxes is the single most effective way to reduce death, harm, and costs associated with alcohol abuse.
• dedicating all funds raised by increasing taxes on alcohol to treatment and prevention programs. No taxes on alcohol should be distributed to the New Mexico General fund.
• giving a high priority to screening and treatment solutions for alcohol abuse.
• consolidating prevention programs to make better use of limited resources.
• increasing the emphasis on community after-school services and supervision programs for minors.
• enacting laws making consumption of alcohol by minors illegal except under the supervision of their parents.

The League’s priorities for taking action to reduce alcohol abuse are

1. establishing education and prevention programs, especially for minors.

2. developing and funding well-organized, efficient, and effective treatment programs with dedicated revenue streams.

3. increasing parental responsibility by means of education and social responsibility laws.

Last modified: Mar 6 2017 10:13.
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