Gov. Susana Martinez

STATE News:

• Measures Focus on Targeting Repeat Offenders, Supporting Police and Courts and Protecting Children

ALBUQUERQUE — Today, Gov Susana Martinez unveiled a comprehensive series of legislative proposals designed to crack down on crime throughout New Mexico. The measures focus on targeting repeat offenders, supporting police officers and the courts and protecting children.

“For too long, violent and repeat criminals have terrorized our families and communities,” Martinez said. “New Mexicans need and deserve to be safe from criminals – we must act once and for all to end the revolving-door justice system in our state. These proposals help get our law enforcement officers more of the tools they need to get criminals off the street and behind bars where they belong. I call on lawmakers to join me in putting New Mexicans first by enacting these proposals.”

Highlights of the Governor’s comprehensive series of public safety proposals include:

Targeting Repeat Offenders, Supporting Law Enforcement and the Courts

• Expanding New Mexico’s Three Strikes Law to allow for a life sentence for those convicted of a third violent felony;
• Reforming New Mexico’s pre-trial release system to keep the most dangerous criminals off the streets;
• Increasing penalties for crimes committed while on probation or parole;
• Cracking down on adult and juvenile fugitives; and
• Increasing penalties for those convicted of drunk driving four or more times, and allowing judges to consider felony DWIs when sentencing habitual offenders.

Protecting Children

• Expanding Baby Brianna’s Law to allow for a life sentence for intentional child abuse resulting in death, regardless of the child’s age;
• Fixing a loophole in New Mexico law to make it a crime to send any images of any person’s intimate parts to a child; and
• Making enticement of a minor a felony regardless of the child’s age.

The Governor also will once again call on the Legislature to reinstate the death penalty for those who kill children, police or corrections officers.

“New Mexicans have seen officers gunned down by thugs and children killed by monsters,” Martinez said. “It is time we say enough is enough. If you kill an officer or a child, you deserve the ultimate punishment.”