SANTA FE - A criminal justice delegation from Chihuahua, Mexico is visiting two state agencies in Santa Fe to learn about accreditation, training, and budget practices. The Organized Crime Commission established by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is hosting the delegation as they tour the New Mexico Department of Public Safety and the New Mexico Corrections Department.

The Mexican federal government recently transferred all corrections facilities in the state of Chihuahua to that state’s Department of Public Safety. Chihuahua’s DPS cabinet secretary has made it a top priority to root out organized crime from the department’s corrections facilities. 

“Criminal organizations operate across the U.S.-Mexico border, so it’s in New Mexico’s best interest to disrupt these groups by the adoption of best international practices,” said DPS Secretary Jason R. Bowie. “We are pleased to share our knowledge and lessons learned about accreditation, which is no easy feat to accomplish, with the

Chihuahua Department of Public Safety.

Accreditation is independent third-party recognition that an organization has the competence and impartiality to perform specific technical activities such as certification, testing and inspection.

The group of 11 from Chihuahua will visit the New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy and Forensic Laboratory Bureau at DPS, and The Penitentiary of New Mexico at NMCD on May 9, 2024.

“Their goal is to learn how police cadets are trained, forensic evidence is received and processed, how the state budget is allocated, and how corrections officers and personnel are trained,” said Organized Crime Commission Director Rob Hart.

The Chihuahua group is seeking accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA®) for their Chihuahua Corrections System. At DPS, the New Mexico State Police has held CALEA accreditations since 2005, the DPS Forensic Laboratory Bureau is accredited by A2LA (American Association for Laboratory Accreditation), and The Penitentiary of New Mexico is accredited by the American Correctional Association. The Chihuahua State Police and Fusion Center (C-7) are CALEA accredited, said Hart.

The Governor’s Organized Crime Commission is assessing and evaluating  efforts by law enforcement throughout New Mexico to combat organized crime in the areas of human trafficking, drug trafficking, and gun smuggling. In October 2023, the Organized Crime Commission met with officials in Sonora, Mexico, to evaluate ways the two states can work together to combat human, drug, and gun trafficking.

The Commission is made up of Second Judicial District Attorney Sam Bregman, Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen, Department of Public Safety Cabinet Secretary Jason R. Bowie, New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy Director Sonya K. Chavez, Western New Mexico University Chief Eddie Flores, Eighth Judicial District Attorney Marcus Montoya, and Retired Chief Justice Judith K. Nakamura.