PUBLIC SAFETY
Police departments and other important public safety programs will
receive more than $66 million from the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act. Here, the New Mexico State Police conduct a sobriety checkpoint.
Overview of Public Safety Projects
The Recovery Act invests in local police departments and other public safety initiatives across the state. More than $66 million has been set aside for New Mexico.
This includes compensation for crime victims, domestic violence programs, officer salaries, and youth mentoring programs.
Recovery funds are helping police departments and the public safety community during a challenging time for state and local governments, which helps keep police on the street so they can protect our communities.
PUBLIC SAFETY PROJECT
Recovery Act Grants to State Domestic Violence Coalitions Program
Funding Recipient: New Mexico Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Award: $78,125
Location: Statewide
Funding Agency: U.S. Department of Justice
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has allowed a new program to move forward to help domestic violence victims in New Mexico.
The New Mexico Coalition Against Domestic Violence is using a grant of $78,125 to start a new program aimed at providing the support necessary to provide family law assistance to victims of domestic violence. The program is specifically designed to encourage new lawyers or lawyers new to the practice of domestic violence to spend at least a part of their practice working on these very difficult and often lengthy cases.
“Family law cases involving domestic violence are technically and emotionally challenging,” said Sherry Spitzer, the coalition's associate director. “Without proper support to the attorney, he or she can become frustrated and discouraged from taking these important cases. This project provides them with technical training to achieve a result that is in the best interests of the child. What we're trying to do is help give lawyers the legal and professional tools that they need to serve this population with specific needs.”
The money will be used to hire a half-time lawyer over the next two years, and to conduct training sessions, Spitzer said.
The goals of the program are to improve legal services for domestic violence survivors across the state; help survivors retain jobs and create financial independence; recruit new lawyers to work in family law, especially in rural New Mexico; conduct three regional trainings for new lawyers; and provide much-needed analysis to improve policies in this area.
