We invest in our community!

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The 13th Judicial District Attorney’s Office has recently established new policies to encourage our staff to engage in community service. By giving staff time off for volunteer hours, we make it more possible for staff and their families, to invest in the communities of our district by creating meaningful impact one community at a time.

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This initiative will supplement and support the work that is already taking place in the communities of the 13th Judicial District. For example, staff members have participated in fundraising and awareness walks for MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving), and contributed to a drive for clothing and hygiene supplies for women in the emergency shelter Haven House   and helped with food assistance and distribution through People Helping People. Staff members have “adopted” families in shelters for the holidays and some of our attorneys have volunteered as judges for high school mock trials.  The Sandoval County Office annually supports Leadership Sandoval County at one of the largest community events in the district, the football game between rivals Rio Rancho and Cleveland High Schools with giveaways, hotdogs, informational presentations and community games led by the SWAT team.

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People participating in our Pre-Prosecution Diversion program have given haircuts to children in foster care, donated coats to the homeless and women and children in shelters including Roberta’s Place, Valencia County Shelter Services and Haven House and for 2 years running donated brand new backpacks with every school supply on district lists for kindergarteners attending Title I schools throughout the three counties of our district.

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Since taking office one of D.A. Romo's prime initiatives has been achieved in the form of our Court Dog, "Cowboy" who was trained by Assistance Dogs of the West to work with victims, especially child victims in court. Our future hope is to have a court dog from Assistance Dogs of the West in each of our three offices. 

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We have to date, produced the Southwest Crimes Against Children Conference, a state wide conference protecting New Mexico's Children for two years, The conference has included presentations and discussion from experts on the local, state and national levels to increase awareness and provide training to law enforcement, victim services and advocates, prosecutors and court personnel on child abuse, sexual violence, internet crimes and child trafficking. Our goal continues to be to increase the sensitivity and awareness in dealing with child victims, and to the extent possible contribute to a decrease in trauma and an increase in convictions.