How to hold to account criminals found to be incompetent in New Mexico is a divisive issue, especially to those who have been a victim of a crime.   

The state courts are jumping into that debate and hope to alleviate some of those concerns by implementing a new competency diversion pilot program that has launched in select jurisdictions. One of the program’s goals is to get eligible mentally ill offenders the resources and treatment they need to be able to fit within society instead of being circled through an already stressed legal system.   

Justice Briana Zamora of the New Mexico Supreme Court joins the latest episode of “Conversations Different” to discuss the diversion program, what kind of impact she hopes the program will have on our communities and the challenges she’s experienced when dealing with cases involving mentally incompetent individuals.  

Justice Zamora also elaborates on the need for agency and legislative collaboration for the diversion program to be effective, saying it will require significant long-term investment to see results.  

How to hold&nbsp;to account&nbsp;criminals&nbsp;found&nbsp;to be&nbsp;incompetent&nbsp;in New Mexico is a&nbsp;divisive&nbsp;issue, especially&nbsp;to those&nbsp;who have been a&nbsp;victim&nbsp;of a&nbsp;crime.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
The&nbsp;state&nbsp;courts&nbsp;are&nbsp;jumping into that debate and&nbsp;hope&nbsp;to alleviate some of those&nbsp;concerns&nbsp;by implementing&nbsp;a new&nbsp;competency&nbsp;diversion&nbsp;pilot&nbsp;program&nbsp;that has&nbsp;launched&nbsp;in select&nbsp;jurisdictions.&nbsp;One of the program&rsquo;s goals&nbsp;is to&nbsp;get&nbsp;eligible&nbsp;mentally&nbsp;ill&nbsp;offenders&nbsp;the&nbsp;resources&nbsp;and&nbsp;treatment&nbsp;they need&nbsp;to&nbsp;be able to&nbsp;fit&nbsp;within&nbsp;society&nbsp;instead of&nbsp;being&nbsp;circled&nbsp;through&nbsp;an already stressed&nbsp;legal system.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Justice Briana Zamora&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;New Mexico Supreme Court joins&nbsp;the latest episode of &ldquo;Conversations Different&rdquo;&nbsp;to discuss&nbsp;the&nbsp;diversion&nbsp;program,&nbsp;what kind of impact she hopes the program will have on&nbsp;our&nbsp;communities&nbsp;and&nbsp;the challenges&nbsp;she&rsquo;s&nbsp;experienced when&nbsp;dealing with&nbsp;cases involving&nbsp;mentally&nbsp;incompetent&nbsp;individuals.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Justice Zamora also elaborates&nbsp;on the need for&nbsp;agency and legislative&nbsp;collaboration&nbsp;for the&nbsp;diversion program&nbsp;to be effective, saying&nbsp;it&nbsp;will require&nbsp;significant&nbsp;long-term investment&nbsp;to see results.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Conversations Different is presented by the Santa Fe New Mexican and features host Inez Russell Gomez in provocative talks with local and regional personalities shaping the landscape of Northern New Mexico.

Inez Russell Gomez is Opinion Page Editor at the Santa Fe New Mexican with decades of experience writing and editing the news in America's oldest capital city.

Conversations Different is presented by the Santa Fe New Mexican and features host Inez Russell Gomez in provocative talks with local and regional personalities shaping the landscape of Northern New Mexico.
Inez Russell Gomez is Opinion Page Editor at the Santa Fe New Mexican with decades of experience writing and editing the news in America's oldest capital city.

Conversations Different with Inez Russell Gomez

Justice Briana Zamora speaks on New Mexico’s competency diversion pilot program  

Legendary New Mexican sculptor Michael Naranjo is the face of a new documentary that highlights what it means to go through life’s struggles and still come out on top. His story is an inspiration to all because Naranjo, who lost his eyesight in battle during the Vietnam War, has had to adapt while learning his craft. His injuries didn’t stop him from living life and achieving his goals, according to Jenna Naranjo Winters, his daughter and producer of the documentary.  

Naranjo Winters joins “Conversations Different” host Inez Russell Gomez in discussing a behind-the-scenes look into producing the film, Dream Touch Believe. She discusses what inspired her to pursue the project and how the film has made an impact across festivals and communities, especially in New Mexico.  

Naranjo Winters also reflects on her background, growing up on the Santa Clara Pueblo and working at the Santa Fe New Mexican on her way to becoming a professional TV and film producer in Los Angeles, Calif.  

Learn more about the film by visiting its website, dreamtouchbelieve.com

Legendary New Mexican&nbsp;sculptor Michael Naranjo is the face of a new documentary that highlights what it means to go through life&rsquo;s struggles and still come out on top.&nbsp;His story is&nbsp;an&nbsp;inspiration to all&nbsp;because Naranjo,&nbsp;who lost his eyesight in battle during the Vietnam War, has had to adapt&nbsp;while learning his craft.&nbsp;His injuries&nbsp;didn&rsquo;t&nbsp;stop him&nbsp;from&nbsp;living life and achieving his&nbsp;goals,&nbsp;according to&nbsp;Jenna Naranjo Winters, his daughter&nbsp;and&nbsp;producer of the documentary.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Naranjo Winters joins &ldquo;Conversations Different&rdquo; host Inez Russell Gomez in discussing&nbsp;a behind-the-scenes&nbsp;look into&nbsp;producing&nbsp;the film,&nbsp;Dream Touch Believe.&nbsp;She&nbsp;discusses&nbsp;what inspired her to pursue the project and how the film has made an impact across&nbsp;festivals and&nbsp;communities,&nbsp;especially in New Mexico.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Naranjo Winters also&nbsp;reflects&nbsp;on&nbsp;her&nbsp;background, growing&nbsp;up on the Santa Clara Pueblo and working at the&nbsp;Santa Fe New Mexican&nbsp;on her way to&nbsp;becoming a professional TV and film producer in Los Angeles, Calif.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Learn more about the film by visiting its website,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dreamtouchbelieve.com/">dreamtouchbelieve.com</a>

Jenna Naranjo Winters shares a behind-the-scenes look into ‘Dream Touch Believe’ film 

New Mexico is known for many things, but its public lands are unmatched if you ask some of the avid outdoors enthusiasts of our state and the ordinary people who have lived here for generations. Whether you're hiking the mountaintops of Santa Fe Baldy or basking in the white gypsum dunes at White Sands National Park, there is something special about our landscapes that have garnered deep appreciation on a personal level for people and on a public policy level for officials.  

Nuestra Tierra Conservation Project, a nonprofit based in Las Cruces, takes that appreciation to heart as one of its guiding principles.   

The nonprofit’s executive director Angel Peña joins the latest episode of “Conversations Different,” to discuss what led to the founding of his organization, the work he and his team are doing to preserve access to New Mexico’s public lands and what he hopes his group will accomplish in the near future as it navigates resource challenges and uncertainty at the federal level.  

Peña also reflects on the cultural significance that our lands have on the state’s diverse populations and why securing access for them is just as important.  

Visit nuestra-tierra.org to learn more about the organization and how to support its efforts. 

New Mexico is known for many things, but its public lands are unmatched&nbsp;if you ask&nbsp;some of&nbsp;the&nbsp;avid outdoors&nbsp;enthusiasts&nbsp;of our&nbsp;state&nbsp;and&nbsp;the&nbsp;ordinary&nbsp;people who have lived here for generations.&nbsp;Whether&nbsp;you're&nbsp;hiking the mountaintops of Santa Fe Baldy or basking in&nbsp;the&nbsp;white gypsum dunes at White Sands&nbsp;National Park, there is something&nbsp;special&nbsp;about our&nbsp;landscapes that have&nbsp;garnered&nbsp;deep&nbsp;appreciation&nbsp;on a personal level&nbsp;for&nbsp;people&nbsp;and&nbsp;on&nbsp;a&nbsp;public policy level&nbsp;for&nbsp;officials.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Nuestra Tierra&nbsp;Conservation Project, a nonprofit based in Las Cruces,&nbsp;takes that appreciation&nbsp;to heart&nbsp;as&nbsp;one of its&nbsp;guiding&nbsp;principles.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
The nonprofit&rsquo;s&nbsp;executive director&nbsp;Angel Pe&ntilde;a&nbsp;joins the latest episode of&nbsp;&ldquo;Conversations Different,&rdquo;&nbsp;to discuss what led to the founding of his organization, the work he and his team are doing to preserve access to New Mexico&rsquo;s public lands and what&nbsp;he hopes&nbsp;his group&nbsp;will&nbsp;accomplish&nbsp;in the&nbsp;near&nbsp;future&nbsp;as it&nbsp;navigates&nbsp;resource&nbsp;challenges&nbsp;and uncertainty at the federal level.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Pe&ntilde;a also&nbsp;reflects on&nbsp;the cultural&nbsp;significance that our lands have on the&nbsp;state&rsquo;s diverse&nbsp;populations&nbsp;and&nbsp;why&nbsp;securing access&nbsp;for them&nbsp;is just as important.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nuestra-tierra.org/">nuestra-tierra.org</a>&nbsp;to learn more about the organization and how to support its efforts.&nbsp;

Angel Peña shares why Nuestra Tierra Conservation is preserving access to New Mexico’s public lands 

When looking back at the history of the atomic bomb and its origins in New Mexico, the narrative often centers on American innovation and the United States as the first nation to create such a deadly weapon. There’s another essential perspective — that of the Japanese people. They endured the devastating consequences of the 1945 Hiroshima bombings and its long-lasting impact on the country in the years following.  

In the latest episode of “Conversations Different,” host Inez Russell Gomez speaks with Eria Matsumae, a Hiroshima peace guide whose work is mostly in Hiroshima but is also international. The two discuss Eria’s efforts to inform people about the historical impact of the bombings and how to bring about future societal peace among nations to avoid another catastrophe from taking place.  

Eria also shares details about her visit to New Mexico, which was inspired by an encounter abroad with Rotary Santa Fe Centro Passport Club President Claudia Gerst. Eria and Claudia briefly reflect on the encounter that led to their friendship, a New Mexico trip and a one-day peace conference that was held in Santa Fe. 

When looking back at the history of the atomic bomb and its origins in New Mexico,&nbsp;the narrative often centers on American innovation and the United States as the first nation to create such a&nbsp;deadly&nbsp;weapon.&nbsp;There&rsquo;s&nbsp;another essential perspective&nbsp;&mdash; that of the Japanese people. They&nbsp;endured the&nbsp;devastating consequences of the 1945 Hiroshima bombings&nbsp;and&nbsp;its&nbsp;long-lasting impact&nbsp;on the country&nbsp;in the years following.&nbsp;&nbsp;
In the latest episode of &ldquo;Conversations Different,&rdquo; host Inez Russell Gomez speaks with&nbsp;Eria Matsumae, a Hiroshima peace guide&nbsp;whose work is mostly in Hiroshima but&nbsp;is also&nbsp;international. The two discuss Eria&rsquo;s&nbsp;efforts to inform&nbsp;people about the&nbsp;historical&nbsp;impact of the bombings and how to bring about&nbsp;future&nbsp;societal&nbsp;peace&nbsp;among nations&nbsp;to avoid another catastrophe from taking place.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Eria also shares&nbsp;details&nbsp;about&nbsp;her visit to New&nbsp;Mexico, which&nbsp;was&nbsp;inspired by&nbsp;an encounter&nbsp;abroad&nbsp;with&nbsp;Rotary Santa Fe Centro Passport Club President&nbsp;Claudia Gerst.&nbsp;Eria and Claudia&nbsp;briefly&nbsp;reflect on&nbsp;the encounter&nbsp;that&nbsp;led to their friendship, a New Mexico trip and a&nbsp;one-day&nbsp;peace conference that&nbsp;was&nbsp;held in&nbsp;Santa Fe.&nbsp;

Justice Briana Zamora speaks on New Mexico’s competency diversion pilot program

Conversations Different with Inez Russell Gomez

In 1 playlist(s)

Conversations Different with Inez Russell Gomez

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips