The State of New Mexico had a 49.1% recidivism rate in 2021 with a three year rate of around 50%. This places us as the state with the sixth highest recidivism in the US, putting us at the worst 12% in this issue. Many of these people were convicted of selling drugs, stolen goods, prostitution, or other illegal goods and services. This is because these convicts were never trained in a marketable trade; such as IT, Welding, Mechanics, HVAC, And many other lawful ways to earn an income.

Many companies require an individual to possess specific competencies in their specific trade. For instance, in IT, most entry positions require an employee to possess The CompTIA A+, Network+, and Security+, with the additional CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) being a common requirement as well. As of right now, most (if not all) New Mexico state penitentiaries do not even offer a GED, the bare minimum to being hired by most companies. IT is not the only industry that requires specific competencies prior to work, but the one I'm most familiar with. All industries, including a minimum wage fast food position requires certifications, and this costs money many people don't have access too

In summary, many of the inmates are incarcerated because of how they made their income. They made their income in an illegal manner because that's the only skill they know that will keep themselves and their families fed, clothed, and under a roof. If we as a society want to reduce crime in the state of New Mexico, we need to teach them marketable skills that will benefit both themselves in earning an income without paranoia, but also our overall economy by providing competition, which will lower costs of services while improving quality. At the end of the day, everyone wins. Thank you for reading my proposal, and if you disagree, please feel free to provide your criticisms public or privately to better improve it. Have a good day!