The bill amends existing laws regarding the supervision and rehabilitation of adjudicated delinquent children in New Mexico. It expands the mandatory supervised release time frame from a minimum of ninety days to up to one hundred eighty days following a commitment of up to eighteen months in a facility for the care and rehabilitation of delinquent children. The bill also allows for the possibility of extending the commitment if necessary, ensuring that the supervised release period is included in any extensions. Additionally, it clarifies that if a child violates the terms of their supervised release, they must serve the remainder of their term in the facility.

Furthermore, the bill modifies the language surrounding the commitment process, specifying that both short-term and long-term commitments will now include a supervised release period of up to one hundred eighty days. This change aims to provide a more structured approach to the rehabilitation of delinquent children while ensuring that the welfare of the child and public safety are prioritized. The bill also emphasizes the importance of notice and hearings for any extensions of a juvenile's commitment, reinforcing the legal framework governing the treatment of adjudicated delinquent children.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 32A-2-19, 32A-2-23