Sarah Smith, Co-Leader of the New Mexico Freedoms Alliance, has called for stronger disciplinary action in schools and stricter enforcement of community laws to address youth violence in Las Cruces. Smith expressed these views in an op-ed.
"There must be consistent and sure enforcement of these rules, no matter whether people are young or old, rich or poor, Hispanic or white, housed or homeless," said Smith. "Teachers and principals need to be allowed to impose swift, sure discipline for students who refuse to respect the rules. City Council can ensure we have good laws, that the laws are applied equally to everyone, that we have enough police officers to keep our community safe."
According to KFOX, a shooting on March 21, 2025, at Young Park in Las Cruces, New Mexico, resulted in three fatalities and 15 injuries during a car meet. Authorities reported that the incident began as a dispute between two groups and escalated into gunfire. All four suspects, including a 20-year-old man and three teenagers aged 15 to 17, were arrested and charged with first-degree murder. This event has intensified public discourse on juvenile crime and community safety measures in Las Cruces.
The New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department's FY 2023 Juvenile Justice Services Annual Report indicates there were 6,687 referrals involving 5,222 unduplicated youth, resulting in 9,966 accrued offenses. Of these referrals, 25.6% were handled formally while 70.8% were addressed through informal means. The data highlights challenges within the juvenile justice system regarding managing and rehabilitating young offenders.
As per Youth Today, during the 2021–22 school year approximately 857,500 violent incidents and 479,500 nonviolent incidents were recorded in U.S. public schools. Sixty-seven percent of schools reported at least one violent incident with 61% noting physical attacks or fights without a weapon. These figures underscore the prevalence of violence in educational settings and the need for effective disciplinary policies.
KRWG reports that Smith serves as the co-leader of the New Mexico Freedoms Alliance—a non-partisan statewide grassroots coalition advocating for freedoms across various domains including education and parenting. She is also a homeschooling mother of two children, a natural healthcare practitioner, and a former NASA aerospace engineer.
