CITY of ALBUQUERQUE
TWENTY THIRD COUNCIL
COUNCIL BILL NO. M-19-6 ENACTMENT NO. _____________________
SPONSORED BY: Cynthia D. Borrego and Ken Sanchez
MEMORIAL
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Reaffirming The City Of Albuquerque’s Commitment To The Prevention Of Child Abuse And Neglect And Urging The New Mexico Legislature To Strengthen State Laws Pertaining To Violence Against Children (Borrego, Sanchez)
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REAFFIRMING THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE’S COMMITMENT TO THE PREVENTION OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT AND URGING THE NEW MEXICO LEGISLATURE TO STRENGTHEN STATE LAWS PERTAINING TO VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN.
WHEREAS, violence against children includes all forms of violence against people under 18 years old which may involve physical, sexual and emotional abuse and neglect; and
WHEREAS, there were 14,139 calls received in 2018 by the Statewide Central Intake (SCI) pertaining to possible crimes against children in the City of Albuquerque, all of which were investigated by APD officers; and
WHEREAS, in 2019, the average of number of cases being reviewed by APD’s Crimes Against Children Unit (CACU) has been 226 cases per week; and
WHEREAS, the New Mexico Children’s Code, Chapter 32A-4, allows for accused perpetrators to access minor victim records and evidence as an exception to its confidentiality section at 32A-4-33 et seq.; and
WHEREAS, access to juvenile records by a potential perpetrator could place the victim at risk for additional trauma and provide suspects access to private interviews, safe house interviews, videos, reports, limited medical information and photos; and
WHEREAS, strengthening the New Mexico Children’s Code to amend its confidentiality section to prevent accused perpetrators from accessing minor victim records and evidence and providing a specific IPRA exception for law enforcement investigations could clarify existing law and better protect access to a child victim’s records; and
WHEREAS, defining “Lewd and Lascivious Conduct”, in NM State law, could allow for law enforcement to bring charges upon individuals exhibiting these behaviors in public, and thereby potentially identifying child predators and preventing exposure of juvenile victims to these acts; and
WHEREAS, the City of Albuquerque is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and protecting them from abuse and maltreatment; and
WHEREAS, it is the responsibility of legislators to revisit legislation from time to time with the aim of strengthening laws that protect vulnerable populations and protecting our children from abuse or neglect.
BE IT MEMORIALIZED BY COUNCIL, THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE
Section 1. The City Council reaffirms its commitment to the prevention of child abuse and neglect.
Section 2. The City Council calls on the New Mexico State Legislature to review and strengthen those laws that are meant to protect children from abuse and maltreatment.
Section 3. The City Clerk is directed to send a letter and an email to each member of our state legislative delegation with a copy of this memorial.
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