Albuquerque, NM – Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman announced plans to publish an online dashboard that will show, by individual judge, how many defendants are held in custody and how many are released before trial. The tool is intended to give the public a clearer view of pre‑trial detention practices in the county.
Transparency as a public‑service goal
Bregman explained that the dashboard will track cases from arrest through the pre‑trial phase, breaking down numbers for each judge and indicating the proportion of defendants who remain detained versus those who are released. He said the data could help citizens understand how a defendant’s chance of detention can vary depending on the judge handling the case.
“We believe in transparency. The public has a right to know what’s happening in our courtrooms,” the DA’s office said in a statement. “We have addressed concerns raised by court officials and will provide the information responsibly.”
Officials caution against oversimplification
New Mexico’s Administrative Office of the Courts director, Karl Reifsteck, warned that publishing statistics by individual judge could create an “unneeded spotlight” and lead to misinterpretation. He emphasized that pre‑trial detention decisions are based on a legal standard requiring clear and convincing evidence that no release conditions can protect the community.
“Whether it’s pre‑trial detention or any other slice, it doesn’t tell the whole story about the criminal case,” Reifsteck said. “Our judges are really there doing their job to make these tough decisions.” He added that judges often lack complete information when deciding whether to keep a defendant in custody.
Public defenders stress the need for context
Bennett Baur, chief public defender for the state of New Mexico, echoed the call for context. He noted that without background information, the numbers could be misleading. Baur pointed to data showing that at least 10 % of people detained before trial are not charged within ten days, and some are never convicted.
“It’s just as important that the people who don’t need to be in custody are released, because there are long‑term consequences,” Baur said. “They can lose their job, their family, their home, and their car. Those impacts must be balanced.”
Next steps
The DA’s office has not set a specific release date for the dashboard. Bregman reiterated that the goal is to provide useful information without turning the data into a tool for personal attacks on judges or prosecutors.
Community members who are interested in the upcoming dashboard can follow the Bernalillo County District Attorney’s website for updates and contact information.
Original reporting: KOAT Albuquerque — read the source article.
