COMMUNITY CRIMINAL JUSTICE DIVERSION PROJECT

HB 354 creates a six-year pilot program in New Mexico's Behavioral Health Services Division to divert certain individuals from the criminal justice system into community-based treatment and support services. It requires participating local governments (in at least five counties across different judicial districts) to establish pre-arrest diversion for petty misdemeanors and post-arrest options for some misdemeanors, along with mobile crisis response teams and a full range of services - including immediate needs (shelter, food), health care (mental/physical treatment), and long-term support (housing, job help). The program is funded through a new state fund that prioritizes Medicaid dollars for eligible services, with participants required to collect data on outcomes like reduced crime and recidivism. The project mandates regular reporting to legislative committees and a final evaluation by 2031.