NEWS: New Mexico Legislature Passes Significant Parole and Probation Reform Bill

Key Reform Eliminates Parole Fees and Expands Probation Relief for Low-Risk Offenders

Santa Fe, NM (March 24, 2025) — Today, Justice Action Network (JAN) applauds the New Mexico Legislature for passing Senate Bill 375, legislation that makes significant improvements to the state’s parole and probation systems. The bill passed both chambers with strong, bipartisan votes.

Championed by Senator Antonio Maestas (D-Bernalillo), Senate Bill 375 eases financial burdens on parolees seeking to rebuild their lives by eliminating monthly parole service fees, and creates a pathway to earn earlier release from supervision for low risk probationers who have shown a commitment to rehabilitation. Justice Action Network supported this bill and advocated for improvements to it throughout the legislative process in New Mexico this year.

New Mexico currently charges each person on parole up to $1,800 per year in parole service fees. Unrelated to criminal fines or restitution, these bureaucratic fees serve as a major barrier to successful community reintegration. Research shows that criminal fees increase chances of reoffending, creating a cycle of incarceration instead of opportunity.

“The elimination of parole fees in Senate Bill 375 marks an enormous step forward for New Mexico,” said Jenny Catchings, Senior State Policy Manager at Justice Action Network who oversaw the organization’s legislative advocacy in New Mexico. “This is a deeply common-sense reform, but one that only a small handful of states have worked to enact through legislation. In the national context, we hope this will inspire other states to meet the challenge of providing better pathways for success in reentry through fee elimination.”

In addition to parole fee elimination, this legislation creates automatic mechanisms for early release from probation if the defendant is classified as a low-risk, has met all probation obligations, and has completed at least half of their period of probation.

“The positive changes in Senate Bill 375 will help individuals regain stability, lower recidivism rates, incentivize successful re-entry, and ultimately create safer communities,” said Lauren Krisai, Executive Director of Justice Action Network. “We were proud to work with Sen. Maestas and are deeply thankful to him for his years-long commitment to advancing meaningful supervision reform in New Mexico. We urge Governor Lujan Grisham to swiftly sign Senate Bill 375 into law.”