ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Two Albuquerque City Council members held a press conference Wednesday in support of a special legislative session. Rep. Joaquin Baca and Rep. Brooke Bassan introduced a bill with majority support in Congress that would allow judges, prosecutors, and defense attorneys to provide immediate treatment for individuals with mental health issues. They are asking lawmakers to reconsider.
“People can feel scared when they encounter these people on the street. At the same time, these people are the most vulnerable. They are most often victims of crime and we are not addressing it. ” said Rep. Baca.
Two bills addressing this issue were not passed during the session, but Baca and Bassan hope they will be considered in a special session.
New Mexico House Democrats released the following statement:
We are committed to improving community safety across the state, including by making strong investments in recruiting and retaining law enforcement officers, strengthening pretrial detention processes, strengthening targeted penalties, and addressing the root causes of crime, including investments. We made significant progress during the 30-day legislative session. He is putting $500 million into state and federal funds for behavioral health care. He also passed major common-sense legislation to reduce gun violence by requiring a seven-day cooling-off period between the purchase and acquisition of firearms.
Our work is not finished yet. We will continue to bring together all stakeholders, including local and city leaders, to fight crime from all angles. Improving the effectiveness of our nation’s criminal justice system, including the availability of court-ordered mental health treatment, is an important part of the solution, and the focus of interim work is to ensure that these policy proposals appropriate scrutiny to ensure that it also protects new Mexicans. Safety and civil liberties.
We encourage City Council members to participate in the state legislative process, ensuring that the City of Albuquerque is prepared to address housing, homelessness, and public safety at the local level.
Camille Ward, Speaker of the House of Representatives and House Democratic Press Secretary
