Section 29-11-5 - Sexual crimes prosecution and treatment program. - New Mexico Statutes

29-11-5. Sexual crimes prosecution and treatment program.

A.     The administrator shall develop, with the cooperation of the criminal justice department [corrections department], the New Mexico state police, the New Mexico law enforcement academy, other authorized law enforcement agencies and existing community-based victim treatment programs, a statewide comprehensive plan to train law enforcement officers and criminal justice and medical personnel in the ability to deal with sexual crimes; to develop strategies for prevention of such crimes; to provide assistance in the assembly of evidence for the facilitation of prosecution of such crimes; and to provide medical and psychological treatment to victims of such crimes. This plan shall include, but not be limited to:   

(1)     education and training of law enforcement officers and criminal justice and medical personnel;   

(2)     collection, processing and analysis of evidence which facilitates prosecution of suspects of sexual crimes; and   

(3)     medical and psychological treatment of victims of such crimes.   

B.     The comprehensive plan shall be implemented throughout the state, and the administrator may contract with appropriate persons, entities, agencies or community-based programs to provide the services to be rendered pursuant to Subsection A of this section and may pay a reasonable fee for such services.   

C.     Nothing in this section shall be construed to require criminal prosecution of a suspect of a sexual crime by the victim to whom services are rendered pursuant to the provisions of the Sexual Crimes Prosecution and Treatment Act [29-11-1 NMSA 1978].   

D.     Training for law enforcement officers in the proper treatment of victims of sexual crimes and collection of evidence and coordination among agencies shall be incorporated in the regular training program for recruits by the New Mexico state police; the basic course taught by the New Mexico law enforcement academy or by other authorized law enforcement agencies. Already-commissioned officers and sex-crime investigators shall receive advanced training through in-service programs.