Public Safety
Advocate for and help implement local and state-level policies and practices that will result in a reduction in crime in Bernalillo County and a tough, strategic, fair, and sophisticated criminal justice system.
Our Core Beliefs:
- High crime impedes economic growth, raising business costs and impacting hiring, expansion, and relocation decisions
- Albuquerque’s prolonged crime spike was across-the-board, steep, and unprecedented; sustaining recent crime reduction will require the coordinated effort and focus of criminal justice system partners
- Those who commit crimes in Albuquerque must face swift and certain apprehension and punishment; this is a key deterrent
- Several years of tremendous changes and disruptions in virtually every part of the justice system in New Mexico exposed and exacerbated numerous longstanding problems, including a history of poor agency coordination and a lack of sophistication, technological capability, and efficiency in the processing of criminal cases
- The data-driven differentiation of offenders and deployment of new technology in crime-fighting are key to a more efficient, effective, and fair justice system
- Crime in Albuquerque is substantially driven by drug use, addiction, and behavioral health disorders
The Chamber’s Public Safety Policy Planks:
- Increase the number of police officers and prosecutors in Albuquerque and improve community-based crime-fighting
- Ensure Albuquerque has a well-trained, professional police department; support APD in satisfying the DOJ settlement agreement
- Improve the use of data, analytics, and technology to make policing and prosecution more strategic and intelligence-driven
- Reform criminal justice practices: improve the efficiency of case processing, better address behavioral health challenges, and ensure criminals face swift/certain punishment
Progress and Initiatives
Chamber Awarded DOJ Crime-Fighting Grant to Help Prosecutors/Police
- The Chamber applied for and won a $1.2 million federal grant to produce two new high-tech crime-fighting tools in Bernalillo County.
- The tools will improve the identification of serious offenders, help prosecutors prioritize their prosecution in key ways early in the life of a case, and create the first-ever electronic case packaging and referral system in our state – improving the quality of prosecuted cases, reducing case dismissals, and increasing convictions.
- Swifter, certain prosecution will put criminals on notice and drive crime rates down.
- The Chamber is working with a local data science firm, RS21, and the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology to develop the tools.
Enhanced Gun Crime Penalties Enacted Statewide
- Chamber-backed legislation passed in 2020 will increase penalties for using a firearm in the commission of a crime and for felons possessing a firearm.
New Crime-Fighting Technology in Albuquerque
- The Chamber joined the City of Albuquerque in securing over $12.5 million in capital funding to address public safety challenges.
- The funding will pay for license plate readers, new fingerprinting and crime scene investigation equipment, dispatch and data systems, and police vehicles.
Crime Strategies Unit: A Permanent, Effective Crime-Fighting Team
- In the 2020 session, the D.A.’s Crime Strategies Unit was made permanent.
- This team of crime analysts, investigators, and prosecutors focuses on taking down criminal networks, and has helped capture violent gun criminals and used forensic genealogy to identify and convict a cold case rapist.
MONEY FOR COPS ON THE TABLE: Mayor Supports City/DOJ Agreement to Accept Nearly $10M in Federal Funds to Hire More Police, Council Consideration Awaits
Last week, Mayor Tim Keller announced his intention to accept and sign onto a Department of Justice grant agreement that will give the City of …
SPECIAL GUEST: US Attorney John Anderson Talks Violent Crime at Chamber Board Meeting
US Attorney John Anderson joined today’s Chamber Board of Directors meeting to discuss the U.S. Department of Justice’s work to support local law enforcement in …
‘A Strong Partnership’: Chamber Hosts Reception with Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham To Discuss Economic Development, Education, and More
Earlier this week, the Chamber hosted a reception to hear from Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham on a range of topics, including fiscal and economic development updates …
‘The Cutting Edge of Public Safety’: Chamber Joins D.A. Raúl Torrez as Albuquerque Hosts National Crime Strategies Conference
Last week, Albuquerque hosted a national convention of law enforcement officials and prosecutors on the forefront of using data to improve public safety — less than a …
‘Deeply Concerning’: Chamber Voices Concerns About Judicial Denials of District Attorney’s Pre-Trial Detention Requests
Last week, Chamber President and CEO Terri Cole raised concerns about the denials by local judges of pre-trial detention requests made by the Bernalillo County District Attorney’s …
“Strong Leaders Doing Amazing Work”: Chamber Awards Legislators, ABQ City Councilor, Early Childhood Advocates, and Bernalillo County District Attorney at 2019 Ceremony
Earlier this week, more than 100 business leaders and elected officials were in attendance as the Chamber held its 2019 Chamber Awards ceremony at the …
‘Expectations Have Not Been Met’: Chamber Backs D.A. Proposal to Strengthen Pre-Trial Detention of Serious Defendants
On behalf of the Chamber’s Board, President and CEO Terri Cole yesterday joined Bernalillo County District Attorney Raúl Torrez to call for new constitutional language …
2019 Legislative Summary: Chamber Releases Report on Outcomes of Latest Legislative Session
The Chamber this week released its 2019 New Mexico Legislative Summary, highlighting the successes, challenges, and major policy changes resulting from an historic and eventful …