Criminal Justice (Probation & Parole · Children)

HB 5, titled "Juvenile Justice Changes," updates New Mexico's juvenile justice system to improve safety and support for youth. It requires courts to use validated risk assessments before detaining children, mandates annual reports on these assessments, and creates new procedures for handling youth who miss supervised release (including tolling supervision time if they abscond). The bill also renames the Juvenile Community Corrections Act to the "Juvenile Community Connections Act," establishes a grant fund for community programs serving adjudicated youth (ages 18-26), and creates local panels to guide next steps for youth in juvenile facilities. These changes directly affect youth in the juvenile justice system, the Department of Children, Youth and Families, and community service providers.