The bill amends existing laws regarding the disposition of adjudicated delinquent children in New Mexico, specifically expanding the mandatory supervised release time frame. Under the new provisions, a child found delinquent may serve up to one hundred eighty days on supervised release, an increase from the previous requirement of no less than ninety days. This change applies to both short-term commitments of up to eighteen months and long-term commitments of no more than two years. The bill also stipulates that if a child violates the terms of their supervised release, they must serve the remainder of their term in a facility.

Additionally, the bill modifies the language surrounding the court's ability to extend commitments. It allows for extensions of both short-term and long-term commitments, ensuring that the mandatory supervised release period is included in any extension. The court retains jurisdiction over short-term commitments not exceeding fifteen days, while long-term commitments can be extended until the child reaches the age of twenty-one if necessary for their welfare or public safety. Overall, the bill aims to enhance the rehabilitation process for delinquent children while ensuring public safety.

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