Capitol Clippings 1/22

David Arkin

A bill introduced on Wednesday by a local lawmaker could provide $2 million for the transportation of parole violators.

Sen. Clint Harden, R-Clovis, said from his Santa Fe office that he introduced SB 90, legislation that would appropriate funds to the state’s Corrections Depart-ment to reimburse counties for the expense of incarcerating and transporting parole violators.

“Stiffer penalties and strict enforcement of parole violators help to make our communities safe. The state has an obligation to the counties to help defray the cost of housing and transporting individuals that are under the custody of the Corrections Department,” he said in a release.

State law says that county sheriffs have to extradite and transport prisoners. However, no funds have been appropriated by the Legislature for the transportation since 1997, Harden said.

Harden also said the large number of adult and juvenile parole violators placed in New Mexico county detention facilities each year contribute to the overcrowding problem in those facilities, impacting county budgets because of inmates’ “medical mental health and substance abuse problems.”

Harden’s other bills

Harden had a busy day on Wednesday, as he introduced not only a bill to provide funding for the transportation of paroles, but several others that would address a variety of issues statewide.