New Mexico considering new system for dealing with mentally ill criminals [Video]

SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) – New Mexico might get a revamped system for handling accused criminals that are mentally ill. The changes are likely on the agenda for the upcoming special legislative session.

“What we have is a complete re-tooling of our system,” Holly Agajanian, the chief general counsel for the Office of the Governor, told lawmakers in a committee meeting on Monday. “It has to be a complete overhaul.”

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The overall idea is to bring mental health treatment to individuals in the criminal justice system across the state, essentially bringing Assisted Outpatient Treatment-type services that exist in Albuquerque to the rest of New Mexico.

Currently, the court serving Albuquerque offers a court-supervised mental health treatment programthey say results in decreased drug use, decreased violence against others, and decreased homelessness. There are also plans to re-tool the civil commitment process, Agajanian said. “At the end of …