Juvenile Assistance Programs

NMSA 1978 ch. 32A, art. 13

in effect

NMSA 1978, § 32A-13-1 Purpose

32A-13-1. Purpose The legislature finds that juvenile crime is steadily increasing and that a reliable process of disposition of juvenile offenders and the availability of treatment alternatives is likely to decrease repeated criminal activity. The legislature further finds that there is a need for a community-based system for juveniles which would provide reintegration assistance, diagnostic evaluations and referral to community-based treatment programs for courts, district attorneys and other service agencies. Two programs related to such a system and associated with the judicial and criminal justice systems have been tested for the past three years. They have been found to be successful in providing evaluation and treatment and have shown significant reduction of repeated criminal activity. These programs are the forensic evaluation program and the wilderness experience program. Laws 1979, ch. 300, § 1; recompiled as 1978 Comp., § 32A-13-1 by Laws 1993, ch. 77, § 214.

NMSA 1978, § 32A-13-2 Juvenile forensic evaluation program

32A-13-2. Juvenile forensic evaluation program A. There is created within the children, youth and families department the "juvenile forensic evaluation program". The program shall be staffed by juvenile forensic evaluation teams and shall provide evaluation of children alleged or found to be in need of supervision and alleged delinquents upon request of the court, law enforcement agencies and juvenile probation officers. B. The juvenile forensic evaluation teams shall recommend referral of children alleged or found to be in need of supervision or alleged delinquents to the children, youth and families department, department of health or human services department [health care authority department] or recommend any other appropriate legal disposition based on the diagnostic evaluation. Juvenile forensic evaluation teams shall follow the juvenile in each stage of treatment, utilizing a data management system established by the children, youth and families department, and shall provide information upon request to state agencies, pursuant to applicable confidentiality provisions pertaining to children. Laws 1979, ch. 300, § 2; 1989, ch. 328, § 11; 1992, ch. 57, § 39; recompiled as 1978 Comp., § 32A-13-2 by Laws 1993, ch. 77, § 214.

NMSA 1978, § 32A-13-3 Wilderness experience program

32A-13-3. Wilderness experience program A wilderness experience program shall be provided by the children, youth and families department as needed for the treatment of children alleged or found to be delinquent or in need of supervision. This program shall work in conjunction with the other forensic programs and criminal justice agencies throughout the state by providing a wilderness-based evaluation and treatment experience for juveniles. It shall be the responsibility of this program to provide, in conjunction with the juvenile forensic evaluation program, programming for juveniles referred from criminal justice agencies and diagnosed as in need of such treatment. The wilderness experience program staff shall make comprehensive reports based on the evaluation of individuals during the treatment experience and shall make recommendations for further treatment and referral to other service programs as necessary. Laws 1979, ch. 300, § 3; 1988, ch. 101, § 30; 1992, ch. 57, § 40; recompiled as 1978 Comp., § 32A-13-3 by Laws 1993, ch. 77, § 214.

Source: New Mexico Compilation Commission (nmonesource.com)URL: https://nmonesource.com/nmos/nmsa-unanno/en/item/18532/index.doFetched: 10/20/2026