The Santa Fe Municipal Court judge told the City of Santa Fe Finance Committee that the court’s DWI/drug treatment court recently received certification from the Administrative Office of the Courts and the FY26 budget requests funds to continue treatment, outreach and technology needed for remote access and security.

“To be a certified municipal court treatment court — the only one in the state of New Mexico — we are now all program participants,” the judge said, citing partnerships with the Santa Fe Police Department, the public defender’s office and the city prosecutor. The court contracts with Mesa Vista Wellness to provide counseling and therapy for treatment-court participants.

Why it matters: Certification signals the court has met training and program standards that inform best practices for treatment courts. The municipal court’s programs are intended to reduce recidivism by combining supervision with treatment alternatives to incarceration.

The judge described several FY26 priorities: continuing the certified treatment court, expanding the outreach court program (which assists precariously housed residents and veterans), keeping electronic monitoring as an alternative to incarceration, and hiring staff to expand programs for specific cohorts such as 18- to 25-year-olds and first-offender classes. The judge said the court recently hired a court program director (a licensed therapist) who will begin May 12 and will help implement new classes and services.

The court also requested upgrades to courtroom audio/video and telephone systems to maintain virtual-access requirements from the New Mexico Supreme Court and an X‑ray machine for bag screening; the judge said the court is already using a walk-through metal detector and that the X‑ray would be a further security measure.

Councilors praised the court’s effort. Councilor Lindell asked how the judge learns of national best practices; the judge said training and conferences inform program choices. Councilor Cassett asked about contracted services and the judge said roughly $180,000 is budgeted for contracts covering electronic monitoring, counseling (Mesa Vista Wellness), interpreters, drug testing and Westlaw legal research access. Cassett also asked whether the contract funding would be sufficient for expanded programs; the judge said the court plans to use the increase in this budget year and will monitor needs.

The committee voted to approve the municipal court item as presented.