Readout from United States Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez’s Violent Crime Listening Session with Service Providers for the Unhoused Community

ALBUQUERQUE – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, federal prosecutors, and other staff from the United States Attorney’s Office (USAO) met with representatives from organizations that serve Albuquerque’s unhoused community on July 18 at the Barrett House to discuss violent crime. Cory Lee, Executive Director of the Barrett House, Hannah Albee, Deputy Director of the Barrett House, Arias Foster, Director of Programs for the Barrett House, Kennedy Haverland, a Clinician from the New Mexico Dream Center and Max Kauffman from Disability Rights New Mexico presented statements. This listening session focused on community-based solutions and the relationship between law enforcement and the unhoused community. This was the second of a series of listening sessions to be held throughout Albuquerque this summer.

United States Attorney Uballez opened the session by explaining that the Attorney General directed United States Attorney’s Offices to focus on addressing violent crime through intervention and outreach efforts. Participants described the link between trauma and violence and the need for more access to resources and truly affordable housing. Others described some victims and witnesses inherent distrust of law enforcement and how that handicaps the prosecution process. All participants agreed that the Albuquerque Community Safety (ACS) program recently implemented by the City of Albuquerque had improved the city’s approach to public safety.

Cory Lee described how the violence of  taking away someone’s identification, existence and belongings can cause trauma and how it disproportionately effects someone living on the street, especially when they do not have a community to protect them.

Arias Foster agreed with Lee, adding “once they are housed… they are bringing a lot of the violence they were experiencing before when they were on the streets to their housing. They don’t know how to work through [it].” Foster described how law enforcement is often not supportive or engaging when they or their clients seek help and expressed that they would like to build a better relationship with law enforcement so that they could better support victims of and witnesses to violence.

Max Kauffman shared his observations about the link between violence and adverse childhood experiences, especially for children in the foster care system who do not receive services or special education, and how that contributes to violent behaviors. “Think about how we are going to long term help this community, not just now but looking forward. I do think it starts at the childhood level because those adverse experiences have a big influence on people.” Kauffman added, “I think if we can get them services through school, have behavior interventions is place, and provide them with the services they need to get a diploma and vocational training, that would have a huge impact in the long term.”

All participants stressed the importance of mandatory trauma-informed care training for both law enforcement and prosecutors to break down barriers in communication between them and victims and witnesses.

This was the second in a series of listening sessions USA Uballez will convene in the coming months as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program. USA Uballez previously met with representatives from organizations that serve Albuquerque’s International District and plans to meet with community leaders from the Westgate community, social justice advocates, addiction and treatment service providers, and families impacted by violent crime. These sessions are an opportunity for the USA, federal prosecutors, and USAO staff to recognize the vital role that these leaders, providers and advocates play in our community.

PSN is an evidence-based program proven effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. In New Mexico, the United States Attorney’s Office pursues a community violence intervention approach. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally-based intervention, prevention, and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

PSN programs are led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in collaboration with local public safety agencies and community organizations. The programs’ emphasis on community engagement, prevention and intervention measures, focused and strategic enforcement, and measurement and accountability has helped achieve overall reductions in violent crime, including gun homicides, in neighborhoods where PSN strategies have been implemented.

Tessa DuBerry

Tessa DuBerry

Tessa DuBerry

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