Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller has launched an initiative to improve the region's ability to prevent and fight crime.
"We’re breaking the mold and bringing leaders from across the metro area to develop real recommendations for actionable change when it comes to the public safety challenges that deeply affect our community," Keller tweeted.
The initiative will include five public meetings this summer, all broadcast on One Albuquerque Media, the mayor said.
Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller
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“Our goal is to develop a shared set of clear action items that we can stand together to support – from policy proposals that we will bring to the legislature, to operational changes we can make in our own agencies or through cross-agency cooperation,” Keller said in a statement. “Rather than discussing abstract theories, writing a report or finger pointing, we hope to identify a shared set of ‘must do’ items that will meaningfully improve each stage of the criminal justice system.”
Other participants include, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, Attorney General Hector Balderas, Bernalillo County District Attorney Raul Torrez,Chief Public Defender Ben Baur, state legislators and members of the Albuquerque City Council members.
“This initiative gives us a rare opportunity for transformation,” Attorney General Hector Balderas said in the statement. “As we convene, we’ll be given a chance to approach issues in the criminal justice system with a level of detail and critical thought that will lead to specific recommendations for an improved approach to prevention and harm reduction.”
The first meeting session will be held July 16 from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. It will be followed by meetings on July 28, Aug. 13, Aug. 27 and Sept. 9. Topics include early intervention, resources for victim advocates, offender re-entry and career pipelines.
The panel will produce policy and legislative proposals to “address factors of crime and barriers to enforcement at the systematic level” and also identify opportunities for collaboration, the mayor’s office said.
