Jeff Bingaman United States Senator from New Mexico

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman today announced that New Mexico has been awarded over $1.74 million in grant funding through the U.S. Department of Justice for a variety of initiatives.

"The grants awarded today will help fund important law enforcement and public safety initiatives in New Mexico," Bingaman said.

The Department of Justice today awarded the following grants:

• New Mexico Administrative Office of the Courts - $1.24 million:  The New Mexico Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) will use statewide drug court grant funds to enhance operations in three active DWI courts as well as implement one new DWI court. Funding will be used to increase program capacity by 10 participants per program, provide training and basic operational funds, as well as secure the services of surveillance officers and defense counsel.
• Pueblo of Acoma - $350,000: The Pueblo of Acoma will use the grant funds to implement the Acoma Wellness Court (AWC). The project's goal is to work towards community renewal and healing by incorporating into the judicial system a holistic model for a journey to wellness, providing access to treatment, case management and complete care. The Pueblo of Acoma tribe's objective is to reduce the number of alcohol and drug related criminal offenses that fuel a cycle of addiction and trauma within the community, targeting during the first year 10 percent of all post adjudicated cases for AWC services.
• First Judicial District Court - $99,055: Funding will be used to enhance the Santa Fe Drug Court's medical and behavioral health care for participants struggling with mental illness and substance abuse issues. 
• New Mexico Children Youth and Families Department - $50,000: Funding will be used to develop a collaborative strategic plan, which will involve juvenile justice, youth consumers and their families, and community-based behavioral health service providers to develop and implement a system of co-occurring mental health and substance abuse intensive outpatient treatment services. These services will assist youth aged 13 to 21 involved in the New Mexico justice system.