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New public safety legislation signed into law by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham last month empowers courts to involuntarily commit more people found incompetent to stand trial, and also expands judges' options for community restoration and treatment.

Lawmakers have rolled together six bills related to crime and rehabilitations into one package. Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee voted for it, while Republicans opposed it.

A look at the state’s first competency diversion program for people charged with misdemeanors who have a mental illness and may be unable to understand legal proceedings or participate in their own defense.

Democratic Representative Christine Chandler has co-sponsored a bill that would expand the criteria for involuntary commitment for people accused of dangerous offenses, and expand mandatory outpatient treatment for people not deemed dangerous

In his State of the Judiciary address before the Legislature Thursday, New Mexico Supreme Court Chief Justice David K. Thomson touted recent reforms to pretrial detention and called for continued collaboration among the three branches of government.

The Governor wants to broaden the circumstances in which defendants can be involuntarily committed for residential treatment. Her party is unlikely to support her plans.