ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico officials plan to merge most of the state's major criminal, court and personal information databases to give judges access to more information before they set bail.
The Albuquerque Journal reports that state officials say they hope the Criminal History Clearinghouse will be operational by winter, but it could take longer. The project will link at least six databases to give judges a quicker, more thorough way to check defendants' backgrounds.
Officials say the project could also be more expensive than legislators budgeted for.
House majority leader Rep. Nate Gentry, an Albuquerque Republican, originally pitched the Clearinghouse as a way to help police officers on the street stay safe. Complications in launching the database, however, will prevent it from being immediately available to police.