NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – The New Mexico legislative session is starting soon, and several bills have been filed this week. One bill, backed by Senators Antonio Maestas and Bill O’Neil, aims to change the way probation violations are handled.
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“Right now, under state law, you have two choices: Slap them on the wrist or remand them in custody, waiting for a judge to deem out final sentencing,” said Maestas.
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Senator Maestas said other technical violations could have an explanation that was out of the parolees’ control, like missing scheduled appointments.
The bill suggests four recourses for a technical violation. A first offense would be punishable by up to three days of community service, a second moves it up to five days.
Senator Maestas added that numerous other states have implemented similar laws, including Louisiana, which update its probation laws last year.
I thought this clip was funny. So a bill in New Mexico would help drug addicts he makes a reference that everybody misses appointments. However, if we miss an appointment straight to prison, we go also interesting that they say punishment and a list sex offender and violent registries as being on them as punishment just more evidence of the politicians admitting the registry punishment.
“Standard, includes contacting a victim or witness, absconding, or deliberately missing a supervised appointment, committing a new crime, or being a sex or violent offender.”
So being a “sex or violent offender” is a standard violation? Does it not follow that a person convicted of a sex crime or crime of violence cannot be placed on probation, because that person’s status is a violation? A bit of a journalistic slip, it would seem. Nothing in the bill or New Mexico statutes says simply “being a sex or violent offender” is a parole or probation violation.
I can’t help but wonder what other facts that KRQE has managed to mangle, deliberately or otherwise.