Santa Fe, NM – Legislation sponsored by Reps. Nate Gentry and Paul Pacheco that would ensure that judges have a complete view of a violent criminal's prior record passed the House Judiciary Committee today by a 12-0 vote. House Bill 72 is also referred to as "Jaydon's Law" in honor of an Albuquerque teen who was gunned down during an act of violence last year.
"Judges need to have a full picture of a defendant's prior criminal record in order to make informed decisions in the courtroom," Gentry said. "Jaydon's Law would give judges access to a defendant's entire violent criminal history, and they can use that information to keep dangerous threats to our communities in jail and off our streets."
Current law prohibits judges from considering the juvenile record of an adult offender during bond and sentencing decisions. Gentry's bill would change the Criminal Procedure Act to allow judges to review an adult defendant's prior record as a youth offender. It will also give judges access to other information, such as evidence presented during past hearings for youth offenses.
The bill would not apply to juvenile offenses committed prior to the age of 14 or to juvenile delinquent offenses. It is targeted specifically at older juveniles found guilty of committing serious violent youth offenses such as second degree murder, aggravated battery and rape.
"No parent should have to endure the heartache I have experienced from losing Jaydon. I don't want his death to be in vain and wanted something positive to come from it. That's why I reached out to Representative Gentry," Chavez said. "I will continue to fight for reform that will help keep violent criminals off the streets so that other families don't have to live through the nightmare our family does every day."