The measure and another related bill also signed Sunday at the New Mexico State Police headquarters in Albuquerque will allow judges to use the information, including juvenile records, when making sentencing and bail decisions.

“As a career prosecutor, I know firsthand how important it is for our judges to have the most complete criminal history of a defendant,” Martinez said. “It allows them to make better decisions in bail and sentencing that best protect our communities from criminals.”

The bill, called “Jaydon’s Law,” is in reference to Jaydon Chavez-Silver, an Albuquerque teenager who was shot and killed at a party last summer.

The legislation would change the state’s Criminal Procedure Act to give judges access to an adult’s youth records, which currently is not allowed under state law.

It would not apply to any crimes committed before age 14.

Republicans pushed the legislation after a number of high-profile crimes in Albuquerque involving repeat offenders.

Another bill signed requires the Administrative Office of the Courts to report those who have been adjudicated as mentally unstable to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System to prevent them from purchasing firearms.

In addition, Martinez also signed into law Senate Bill 21, a measure to establish “Brittany Alerts” in New Mexico.

Based on the Amber and Silver Alert systems, Brittany Alerts will help notify the public of a missing person with physical or mental disabilities.

http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/aae4544566644bdcb2876e72602d6487/NM–Criminal-Justice-Reforms