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| Wilson Seeks Funding for New Mexico Domestic Violence Prevention and Job Creation Programs |
April 15, 2002 |
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Washington, DC - Congresswoman Heather Wilson today sent a letter to Frank Wolf, Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State Appropriations to request funding for key programs in New Mexico.
“New Mexico has some great programs to help victims of domestic violence and other crimes, but they need resources to operate and expand the numbers of people they can help,” said Wilson. “We also need to support programs to create jobs and improve learning opportunities for those who live in remote areas. The funding I have requested will expand some of these programs and help many New Mexicans improve their quality of life.”
$72,000 to expand Enlace Communitario’s current domestic violence program services. Funding for this program would cover the costs of hiring a full-time counselor, as well as purchasing equipment, materials and learning tools to offer therapy and life skills training for victims of domestic violence and their children. Enlace offers group counseling sessions for adults, group play therapy for children, individual counseling, community education, parenting classes and job skills training. They are the only organization to offer a comprehensive program that includes Spanish-speaking services. Enlace currently receives funding from the State of New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department, VOCA, and the City of Albuquerque. In addition, Enlace has been supported by community volunteers and in-kind private donations of furniture and supplies.
$2 million for a Center for Indian Country Forensic Services in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The funding will be used to expand the laboratory and help pay for personnel and operating expenses to provide essential evidence examinations and crime scene training. Forensic services in Indian Country are currently provided through a patchwork of generally inadequate capabilities that do not serve the needs of Federal and tribal criminal justice systems. Most parts of Indian Country lack timely examination of forensic evidence which has hobbled investigators, prosecutors, and the courts. Inadequate training and equipment for law enforcement agencies responding to Indian Country crime scenes has hindered investigations and prosecutions.
$175,000 for the Victim Assistance Program of the Second Judicial District Attorney’s Office in Albuquerque, New Mexico. This is a comprehensive victim assistance program providing enhanced services for victims of violent crimes, homicide, sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse cases. Underserved populations include non-English speaking constituents, immigrants, and the physically and mentally disabled. The program has become the model of prosecutorial-based victim assistance in the State of New Mexico. A proactive approach to assistance led to the founding of the original Domestic Abuse Response unit that has garnered national recognition. During the year 2000, the District Attorney’s office handled 1,800 new felony violent crime cases and 500 domestic violence cases. In 2001, the Office received more than 2000 adult felony cases including child abuse, kidnapping, gang-related offenses, and armed robbery. Each of the current advocates has a caseload of approximately 200 -250 cases at any one time. Additional advocates would be able to extend the benefits of victim assistance to more violent crime victims in a professional, timely, and caring manner.
Other projects for which Wilson requested funding are:
$1.5 million for Adelante Development Center, Incorporated, to establish the Comprehensive Employment and Job Creation Program
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$10 million to operate the Center for Civil Force Protection at Sandia National Laboratories
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$3 million for the Southwest Border Consortium at Sandia National Laboratories
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$10 million for Department of Energy Labs to Benefit Law Enforcement at Sandia National Laboratories
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$2,000 for the Bernalillo County Sheriff Department’s Emergency Beacon Program
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$110 million for the Public Telecommunications Facilities Program (PTFP), a Native American Tribes and Pueblos distance learning program
$13.5 million for the State Justice Institute
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