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Bill that would give judges access to criminals' past records breezes through committee
A bill that aims to give New Mexico judges full access to the criminal histories of violent offenders passed the House Regulatory and Public Affairs Committee Monday 7-0.
The bill, House Bill 72, is sponsored by Reps. Nate Gentry and Paul Pacheco and is also referred to as "Jaydon's Law," in reference to Jaydon Chavez-Silver, an Albuquerque teen shot and killed at a party last summer.
Gentry and Pacheco want the state to give the state Public Safety Department $700,000 to create the so-called "clearinghouse," which would create a statewide database to collect information on those defendants.
The database could be accessed by everyone in the state criminal justice department – judges, defense attorneys, prosecutors and police.
Currently, there are several competing databases used throughout the state. But Gentry says he believes one database with all information about criminal defendants would be beneficial so that everyone who comes in contact with them knows who they are dealing with.
It would also change the state's Criminal Procedure Act to give judges access to an adult's youth records, which is currently illegal under state law.
It would not apply to any crimes committed before age 14, but rather targets older teens charged with violent crimes.
“It’s crucial that judges have the information they need to make these important decisions,” Pacheco said. “This bill will help judges keep criminals who have a long record of violent offenses off the streets.”
"It is important that judges have accurate information on the defendants in their court room," Gentry said. "This is a great way to provide information to our courts and I’m glad that we could unanimously pass this bill out of committee today."
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