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When should life in prison truly mean life?

New Mexico in Focus

March 31, 2017 – The New Mexico Parole Board has released just 7 percent of prison inmates sentenced to 30 years to life for capital crimes. That’s an alarmingly low rate compared to other states, and it seems to buck a state law passed in 1980 that says inmates are entitled to a fair hearing…

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The Cost of Being Tough on Crime

New Mexico in Focus (gavel)

Feb. 3, 2017— After a year of high-profile violent crime in New Mexico, Gov. Martinez urged lawmakers to get tough on crime this session, pushing for stiffer sentences, expanding three-strikes rules and calling for reinstatement of the death penalty. But many Democrats, who control the House and Senate, say we can’t afford to keep putting…

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New Mexico in Focus is on hiatus as our team gears up for coverage of the general election; we'll be back with all new journalism in October.