NM DPS Residential Substance Abuse Treatment for State Prisoners Grant Program

The New Mexico Department of Public Safety (NMDPS) is seeking federal funding from the 2024 Residential Substance Abuse Treatment for State Prisoners Program with the New Mexico Second Judicial District Court (SJDC) located in Bernalillo County, New Mexico. The purpose of this project is to enhance long-term public safety and reduce recidivism by partnering with a local Young Adult Court (YAC) program. Established in 2017, the SJDC-YAC is a voluntary court program designed for individuals ages 18-25 that have been arrested and charged with felony level charges in Bernalillo County. Through the work of this project, the NMDPS will partner with the SJDC to: provide advanced training opportunities to YAC team members responsible for working with clients; promote community reintegration services for participants through established partnerships with community-based treatment providers and recovery support services; provide YAC staff with the needed resources and equipment to provide confidential and effective services to YAC participants; and increase the success of YAC participants and postgraduates by engaging peers in recovery support activities while also encouraging sustained recovery for volunteer peer mentors. Funding from this award, will enhance the SJDC’s ability to provide intensive case management and therapeutic assessments, help align opportunities for accountability and transformation of at-risk young adults by identifying and serving their unique treatment needs, acknowledging developmental challenges for this age group, and providing local community-based support services. Additionally, the YAC program will expand its current program capacity by adding a new track to target defendants charged with gun violence. This track will allow young adults who are directly involved with gangs, diagnosed with a serious mental illness and/ or substance abuse problem, and are charged with a gun crime to participate in a program that utilizes innovative approaches to teach young adults alternatives to violence and specializes in programming for their specific age group.