2021 Metro Crime Initiative

Action we can take now to make the metro safer.

Throughout the summer, the City of Albuquerque convened leaders from across the criminal justice system to collaborate on crime-fighting in the metro area. The Metro Crime Initiative has created a to-do list, action items the City and our partners are taking now to lower crime in Albuquerque.

The City and MCI partners went to this past state legislative session with an agenda of system-wide changes to the law and requests for funding to make our region safer. Priorities ranged from investments in our behavioral health system, stronger laws to address gun violence and repeat offenders, and funding for additional officers and judicial staff.

The results were a mixed bag but some significant successes included expanding Albuquerque’s highly successful Violence Intervention Program, strengthening penalties for gun crimes, strengthening the GPS ankle monitoring system, securing funding to help municipalities hire and retain officers, and funding to add additional judges and staff to our state’s underfunded judicial system.

It is critical to keep up this fight. MCI partners continue to work between agencies and organizations to tackle action items on the list and to advocate for the legal change that must come from the state level.

Get Involved with MCI

Fight Crime

Fully fund public safety agencies
Hire more officers
Create retention programs for officers
Expand crime-fighting technology
Crack down on chop shops
Extend anti-auto theft & felony warrant partnerships
Fund dashboard to track criminal cases
Support security infrastructure for businesses
Coordinate to identify violent criminals
Invest in mobile speed enforcement

Reduce Gun Violence

Strengthen gun storage laws
Detain gun offenders until trial
Strengthen gun crime penalties
Close loopholes in Red Flag law
Urge gun owners to self- record serial numbers
Study gun violence as public health issue

Close the Revolving Door

Fix 24/7 ankle monitoring
Increase staffing in courts
Use grand juries to protect victims & clear backlogs
Limit case management orders to detainees

Strengthen Diversion

Expand court ordered treatment
Increase pre-arrest diversion offers
Lower cost barriers to diversion programs
Increase number of diversion agreements
Increase funding and capacity for specialty courts

Rebuild Behavioral Health System

Incentivize new provider services
Build peer support programs
Create 24/7 sobering center
Expand Turquoise Lodge
Increase addiction treatment services
Develop behavioral health career paths
Career training for underserved youth

Expand Violence Intervention Programs

Fund CABQ Violence Intervention Program
Expand Violence Intervention Program statewide
Bring restorative justice to schools

About the Metro Crime Initiative

Throughout the summer of 2021, the Metro Crime Initiative explored a case study which follows a young adult as they move through the local criminal justice system. The case study gave a realistic situation for participants to consider and provoked ideas on how to lower crime from all sides.

Mayor Tim Keller convened leaders in New Mexico for five sessions to develop the action items outlined in this document to lower crime. We are committed to these actions.

All sessions of the Metro Crime Initiative are available for viewing on OneAlbuquerque Media, GOV-TV 16 YouTube.