Dec 4 Delinquency Program for Prosecutors and Defense Counsel
With funding support from the Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee, the CLC will be conducting a joint training for prosecutors and juvenile defenders on delinquency issues. This December 4 program is being offered at the Hotel Albuquerque in conjunction with the 2007 NM Juvenile Justice Conference, which is scheduled for December 5-6 at the same hotel.

Subtitled The Legacy of Gault: Professional Excellence in Delinquency Practice, the December 4 program recognizes the importance of the practice of delinquency law on both sides of the aisle. Specific topics will include credibility and competency, ethical issues, and issues surrounding juvenile sex offenders, including implications of the Adams Walsh Act. See the agenda (PDF) for details.

There is no fee for the program for prosecutors and public defenders, including contract public defenders, while retained counsel are asked to pay a small fee of $35. CLE credits will be available. Prosecutors and public defenders (staff or contract) who must travel 70 or more miles to attend will be provided accommodations for the night of October 3. See the registration form (DOC or PDF) for more information.

15th Annual Children’s Law Institute Takes Place January 9–11, 2008
Download the conference brochure here (PDF)
Held annually, the New Mexico Children’s Law Institute has become one of the largest children’s law conferences in the country. The 2007 Children’s Law Institute drew close to 700 people from around New Mexico. Attendees included judges, legislators, young people, attorneys, social workers, JPPOs, CASAs, citizen review board members, foster parents and community providers. For the first time in the history of the CLI, registration had to close in advance of the event.

The 15th Annual Children’s Law Institute will take place January 9-11, 2008, and has been moved to the Hotel Albuquerque (formerly the Sheraton Old Town), 800 Rio Grande Blvd, NW, to accommodate more people. The theme of the CLI this year will be complex developmental trauma: Trauma: Impact, Response and Resilience. For more information, download the conference brochure (PDF).

Respondent Attorney Training Held September 6, 2007
The Center sponsored its third respondents’ attorney CLE program on September 6, 2007, the two earlier ones having been held in June 2006 and December 2004. New Mexico attorneys who are interested in receiving materials from the September 6 program, in being added to the mailing list for future programs, in joining the Respondents’ Attorney Listserv, or in participating in the Respondents’ Attorney Form and Brief Bank, should contact Center Director Judy Flynn-O’Brien at 277-1050 or .

Regional Trainings on 2005 Changes to Children’s Code – Powerpoint Slides Available
The New Mexico Legislature passed most of the changes to the Children’s Code recommended by a 2004 statewide taskforce, including a number of changes to the provisions of the Code on delinquency, families in need of services, abuse and neglect cases, and adoption. The Legislature also passed a number of amendments to related laws, such as the Safe Haven for Infants Act, the compulsory school attendance laws, and the laws on criminal record checks for CYFD employees and adults living in foster homes and proposed adoptive homes.

All of these changes were the subject of day-long training programs that took place in Roswell, Las Cruces, Santa Fe, Farmington and Albuquerque in late June and early July. Open to the public and free, these programs drew a total of twelve hundred people. Anyone who missed them can take a look at Powerpoint presentations on the following topics:
• Overview and Miscellaneous Changes PPT
• Delinquency PPT
• Abuse and Neglect PPT
• Youth Attorneys PPT
• Adoption PPT
The materials are also available in hard copy from the Institute of Public Law, which houses the Children’s Law Center. Call 505-277-5006 or email .