NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – A package of crime bills is now headed to the Senate after a vote pushed it past the House floor. The Public Safety Package would provide resources for those in the criminal justice system suffering from mental illnesses and would enhance penalties for fentanyl traffickers, increase the penalty for shooting threats, and make it illegal to have an enhanced weapon.
In addition, the set of bills would increase penalties for repeat and habitual offenders charged with theft, receiving, or transferring a stolen vehicle. “Their cases are dismissed. We don’t get them treatment, we don’t work with them through the courts, and this will give the courts and the prosecutors a tool to address some of the mental health crises that they’re seeing that’s entering into the criminal justice system right now,” says Representative Christine Chandler (D- Los Alamos).
However, the bill did see some opposition. Representative Andrea Reeb introduced an amendment that would have added changes to the Juvenile Delinquency Act, hoping to add it to the crime package.
But those Republicans say this effort was killed by House Democrats who said the changes were unvetted and rushed.