Sun News report

SILVER CITY — Sixth Judicial District Attorney Mary Lynne Newell announced Friday her intent to seek re-election in 2008.

Newell has served as district attorney since 2003, when she was appointed by the governor. She won election to the seat in 2004.

Newell has been a prosecuting attorney since 1982. She is married to Curtis Hayes, a professor of criminal justice at Western New Mexico University, and the couple has two children.

"I had three main goals when I came in as district attorney," Newell said. "To hold offenders fully accountable by completing sentences and paying restitution; to improve the professionalism of the office and our service to the public; and to improve our services to victims of all crimes."

Newell cited an increase in restitution payments over her term of office as a sign of that commitment. Since 2004-05, restitution payments have increased from $127,626 to $188,000 in 2006-07.

Another improvement Newell cites is the hiring of a full-time domestic abuse victim advocate and attorney in Grant County. She said the addition of those resources allowed the transfer of an attorney and secretary from Grant County to Hidalgo County, doubling the prosecution effort there.

In Luna County, Newell said she was able to convince the Legislature to approve that office's first full-time victim advocate, a fifth attorney and a secretary.

"I've used transitions in staff to find people with equal or more trial experience, or who will match the enthusiasm for serving the public that I want to be a hallmark of our office," she said.

Newell said the district faces many challenges in the future with the increase in homicides, the steady level of illegal drug use and the white collar and violent crimes that are often linked with substance abuse.

She said she remains committed to not only diligent prosecution of current offenders, but working proactively to turn children away from future criminal behavior.

"By the time offenders get into the justice system, there is often not much we can do except seek incarceration and to reform, as adults, 10 or more years of bad behavior," she said. "I support programs through the Restorative Justice Center, El Refugio, the Healing House and especially those of our Juvenile Probation and Parole Offices, that teach communication in disputes, non-violence in homes and families and that support anti-truancy and anti-bullying initiatives in our schools. Only when we all, as a community, model good behavior, and as a community act to correct bad behavior, will we see a turn around in the crime rate in our communities."