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Corrections highlights reentry gains; lawmakers back LFC funding while asking about sustainability
Summary
Corrections Secretary Alicia Tafoya Lucero outlined NMCD reentry expansions — vocational certificates, MAT expansion, and tablet-based curricula — and said both LFC and executive recognize recurring funding need; the committee adopted the LFC recommendation while asking about sustainability of community corrections fund sources and supportive housing contracts.
Secretary Alicia Tafoya Lucero presented the Corrections Department’s budget and reentry-focused P535 program, emphasizing newly expanded vocational offerings (HVAC, heavy-equipment operation, welding, CDL), increased educational partnerships and supportive housing services. She said reentry now includes a broad set of services to help people find employment and stable housing after release and described ongoing efforts to integrate services with community providers.
Tafoya Lucero said the department has increased capacity for medication-assisted treatment (MAT); the department expanded beyond Vivitrol and Suboxone and plans to extend access to a broader incarcerated population in mid-year. NMCD also described using a tablet-based curriculum (‘Atlas’) with 400 self-help modules to supplement in-class RDAP programming and extend access where classroom space is limited.
On funding, both the executive and LFC packages align on the scope of reentry activities but differ on the funding source for a $2.9 million reentry allocation: the executive proposes general-fund support while LFC would use community-corrections fund balance. LFC and DFA staff warned that fund balance could be used in FY27 but is not sustainable long-term without replenishment.
Representative Herndon and others asked for itemized details on supportive-housing spending; NMCD staff said transitional living and housing supports are part of $14M in community corrections contracts. Members also discussed recidivism: NMCD reported steady decreases over several years and noted that the agency has reoriented responses to technical parole violations, lowering returns for technical reasons.
The committee adopted the LFC recommendation for NMCD with unanimous consent and requested follow-up on reentry contract balances, the remaining DNA backlog outsourcing balance, and metrics tied to educational and vocational programs.
What’s next: NMCD will provide detailed accounting of reentry contracts and community corrections fund balance, a status update on DNA backlog outsourcing and further outcomes data for educational and vocational programs to inform sustainability decisions.
