The bill amends existing juvenile justice laws in New Mexico, focusing on the detention and supervision of delinquent children. It mandates the creation of a detention risk assessment instrument that must be completed prior to a child's detention, with the Department of Children, Youth, and Families required to report annually on its effectiveness. The bill establishes strict criteria for detention, allowing it only if a child poses a significant risk of harm or may flee from jurisdiction. Additionally, it revises the revocation procedures for supervised release, introduces the "Juvenile Community Connections Act," and expands the associated grant fund to support services for adjudicated delinquents.

Moreover, the bill outlines the formation and composition of local panels to evaluate children's suitability for community programs, ensuring representation from various sectors, including the judiciary and law enforcement. Recommendations from these panels can be presented to judges for consideration in sentencing. The bill also emphasizes community corrections placements in the sentencing process, requiring judges to consider available services and program participation as probation conditions. It clarifies definitions related to governmental entities, ensuring protections under the Governmental Immunity Act for licensed foster parents and selection panel members.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 32A-2-11, 32A-2-25, 33-9A-1, 33-9A-2, 33-9A-3, 33-9A-4, 33-9A-5, 33-9A-6, 41-4-3, 41-13-2