Curry County, NM
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The New Mexico State DWI Grant Council met on April 15, 2025, and allocated Local DWI Grant Program funds for the fiscal year 2026. Curry County was given an estimated amount of $266,235 in Local DWI distribution funds and awarded $340,000 in Local DWI competitive grant funds for a total of $606,235. The Curry County DWI Program, in partnership with the Curry County DWI Task Force, aims to reduce the incidence of DWI, alcoholism, alcohol misuse, underage drinking, and alcohol-related domestic violence in our community. Curry County had 33 DWI arrests in 2019 and 56 in 2020. Also, the percentage of individuals reporting drinking and driving has steadily decreased from 1.5% in 2020 to 1.0% in 2022. Three percent of the adults in Curry County self-report driving under the influence of marijuana. |
Curry County DWI Task ForceThe Mission of the Curry County DWI Task Force is to provide a positive impact on the health and welfare of Curry County residents by decreasing the incidence of DWI, alcohol and substance use, and alcohol-related domestic violence consequential from misuse. This is accomplished through prevention, awareness, treatment, enforcement, compliance probation and intervention services. UNITED IN OUR EFFORTS, WE PROVIDE TO A STRONGER, SAFER COMMUNITY. DWI Task Force Voting MembersIf you would like to help stamp out drinking and driving, please send (or email) a letter of interest to Edward Spalione , DWI Program Manager, at 417 Gidding Street, Suite 100, Clovis, NM 88101. |
DWI Task Force Notice of MeetingsThe DWI Task Force meets virtually via Zoom, at least once a quarter. The meeting times begin at 2:00 p.m. (unless outlined) on the dates listed below. Task Force meetings are open to the public, and everyone is encouraged to attend.
If you would like a Zoom link for the meetings sent to you, please email espalione@currycountynm.gov. Agendas and minutes from previous meetings are at the bottom of the page. The agenda for upcoming meetings will be posted 72 hours in advance. To view previous DWI Task Force Meetings, Agendas, and Documents, view the DWI Task Force Meetings and Agendas page. |
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Victim Impact PanelThe purpose of the Victim Impact Panel (VIP) is to help DWI offenders recognize and internalize the lasting effects of driving while under the influence. We hope to create empathy and understanding of the tragedy and leave an impression that will change thinking and behavior and prevent future offenses. Victim Impact Panels also allow victims to heal through sharing their stories. Victims, survivors, law enforcement, and first responders speak briefly about the accident they, or a loved one, were seriously injured or killed. The presenters are careful not to blame or judge. They merely tell their stories, describing how DWI affected their lives and the lives of their families and friends. The DWI Task Force is continually seeking speakers for Victim Impact Panel. If you would like to share your story to prevent further DWI incidents, don't hesitate to get in touch with Edward Spalione at the email link to the right. Victim Impact Panel meets in the Youth Services Building at 818 N. Main St, Clovis, NM. The doors open at 7:00 p.m. for check-in, and the speakers begin at 7:30 p.m. The doors will lock at 7:30 p.m., so we ask that you arrive in plenty of time to check-in. Quarterly meetings are held on the dates below.
The fee to attend Victim Impact Panel as a sanction is $50.00. Money orders or bank checks for $50.00 made payable to Curry County are the only form of payment allowed. No cash or personal checks are accepted. A parent or guardian must accompany minors under 18. Please contact JoAnn Lopez, Curry County Community Programs Specialist (575) 763-5639 for registration information.
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ResourcesFunding for these efforts come from (1) liquor excise taxes, administered by the New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration: Local Government Division as Distribution funds and LDWI Grant Award (2) fees paid by convicted DWI offenders in local courts and probation, (3) and other funds. Alcohol & Substance Use Prevention Evidence Based Prevention efforts are in place to address the needs of Curry County youth. The curriculum presented in sixth grade classes to high school grades to illuminate the dangers and consequences of substance use among young people and enforce positive choices. Support is provided to youth programs at schools throughout Curry County. Media campaigns are conducted through print, radio advertisements, and social media at different times throughout the year, especially around holidays and school events where drinking is prevalent. EnforcementThe Curry County Sheriff’s Office, City of Clovis Police Department, NM State Police, Texico Police, Melrose Police, and the Special Investigations Division of the Department of Public Safety collaborate in conducting activities such as DWI checkpoints, DWI saturation patrols, DWI warrant enforcement, public educational events, and underage drinking enforcement efforts. Alternative SentencingThe Curry County DWI Program supports alternative sentencing for youth offenders. Teen Court is the current program for young people. Please click here for more information. ScreeningThe Curry County DWI Program supports screening of DWI Offenders for both the District and Compliance MonitoringDWI offenders are tracked to ensure compliance with court ordered sanctions through the DWI Court Compliance Monitor located in the Curry County Courthouse. Outpatient TreatmentDWI Offenders are screened and assessed through the Curry County DWI Program. Based on the screening/assessment results, clients are referred to a licensed mental health professional. The mental health professional completes a detailed assessment with each offender individually. The professional makes a recommendation for necessary treatment and determines the level of care that is appropriate. If a recommendation is made, it becomes mandatory for an offender to complete the treatment per court sentence. Coordination/Planning/EvaluationThe County has a DWI Coordinator that administers the day to day operations of the program, which include the managing of funds and attending legislative meetings to request additional funding. The Coordinator works closely with the NM Department of Finance and Administration and the Curry County DWI Task Force in order to comply with bylaws and contract requirements as set forth by the state. Statistics are reported to the Task Force quarterly by all agencies involved in the local DWI program. This information is reported by the coordinator to the Department of Finance and Administration on a quarterly basis for reimbursement of funds. For additional information on DWI efforts and statistics in the State of New Mexico, please visit New Mexico DWI Coordinators Affiliate at http://www.nmdwi.org. Interlock Indigent FundTSD also administers a legislatively mandated ignition interlock indigent fund to provide a subsidy to indigent offenders required to install an interlock device in their vehicles. If indigency is granted and provided that money is available in the Interlock Device Fund, the NMDOT Traffic Safety Division shall pay for one vehicle per offender, up to: $50.00 for the cost of installation; $30.00 monthly for verified active usage of the interlock device, and up to $50.00 for the cost of removal. The offender is responsible for all other charges associated with the installation, servicing and removal of the ignition interlock device. For more information and the applications please visit the weblink below. Applications are at the bottom of the page. |
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