Sam Bregman, the District Attorney for Bernalillo County, said in a press release that New Mexico's juvenile justice system is not effectively preventing violent crimes committed by repeat youth offenders.
"Enough is enough. This office has been asking — and urging — lawmakers, over and over, to address the juvenile crime crisis in our state," said Bregman, Bernalillo County District Attorney. "One of the teens charged with this latest homicide was convicted of bringing a gun to Sandia High School just two years ago. There were no consequences. He didn't learn anything except that he could get away with carrying a gun as he pleased."
The statement was issued following charges against two teenagers for the fatal shooting of a 23-year-old homeless man in Albuquerque. One of the teens had a prior conviction for bringing a gun to Sandia High School and was later found with another firearm, yet reportedly faced minimal legal consequences. According to NM News, Bregman said that the lack of meaningful repercussions for repeat juvenile offenders has created a culture of impunity, contributing to escalating violence in New Mexico communities.
In 2023, the Second Judicial District Court in Bernalillo County reported 781 juvenile criminal cases, marking a 38% increase from the previous year. Approximately 34% of these cases involved firearm-related charges, indicating an alarming trend of increased gun involvement among youth offenders. A legislative report from the New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee highlighted the growing urgency to reassess how the state addresses youth crime and public safety.
House Bill 134 was introduced during the 2025 New Mexico legislative session with the aim of amending the state's Children's Code to allow courts more flexibility in charging certain violent juvenile offenders as adults. The bill proposed expanding the categories of crimes eligible for adult prosecution and revising the minimum age for serious youthful offender classification. However, according to KOAT Action 7 News, it failed to gain sufficient legislative support and did not pass, leaving existing legal loopholes within the juvenile justice system unchanged.
Bregman has served as District Attorney since his appointment by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham in 2023. He brings nearly three decades of legal experience to his role, having previously worked as an Assistant District Attorney and served on the Albuquerque City Council.
