Socorro County Juvenile Justice Board expands programs, community impact

Created by resolution of the City of Socorro in 2011, the Socorro County Juvenile Justice Board operates under the Juvenile Continuum Grant Fund, which was established by the state in 2007. 

Kristen Keller, who has served as the board’s coordinator since April 2012, said the goal of the statute was to create a “continuum site” in every New Mexico county to provide early intervention and prevention services for youth. As of 2025, 17 counties participate statewide, including Socorro.

“In our first year, our funding was about $25,000,” Keller said. “Now we’re funded at approximately $183,000 a year, which has allowed us to grow the services we offer to the community.”

Socorro serves as the board’s fiscal agent, while funding comes from the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD). Both the city and CYFD sit on the board as non-voting members to avoid conflicts of interest.

The board itself includes representatives from local government, law enforcement, the district attorney’s office, juvenile probation, public schools, nonprofit organizations, health and social services, local businesses, New Mexico Tech and community members, including families. State Rep. Gail Armstrong serves as a co-chair.

The board’s vision, Keller said, is “to positively impact and enhance the lives of our youth to prepare them for a productive adulthood.”

 Its mission is to develop a coordinated community network to support youth and families in a positive and professional way.

Currently, the Socorro County Juvenile Justice Board oversees two primary programs: the Teen Diversion Program and Girls Circle. The diversion program is expanding to Magdalena, and Keller said she has been working for a “couple of years” to take the program to Alamo.

The Teen Diversion Program is designed for first-time offenders and offers an alternative to formal involvement with the juvenile justice system. Instead of being referred directly to juvenile probation, eligible youth can participate in diversion services tailored to their specific situation.

“The curriculum is individualized,” Keller said. “If a youth was involved in a fight, they might work on emotional regulation. It really depends on what’s going on with that young person.”

Each participant meets one-on-one with a diversion facilitator, completes an intake, and is matched with appropriate curriculum. Facilitators check in weekly and act as mentors until the youth successfully completes the program.

Youth can be referred by schools, the juvenile probation office, parents or even self-refer. Participants do not have to be enrolled in public school and may be homeschooled.

Girls Circle, the second major program, focuses on mentoring rather than discipline. The program serves girls at the elementary, middle and high school levels and emphasizes positive self-image, healthy relationships and communication skills.

“It’s not a punishment program at all,” Keller said. “It’s very positive, and the girls absolutely love it.”

Girls Circle hosts open workshops Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Olguin Insurance office on California Street. Any girl interested in participating is welcome.

According to Keller, the board averages about 130 Girls Circle sessions per year. Teen Diversion delivers more than 200 classes annually, along with approximately 75 mentoring sessions and 75 case management sessions.

Beyond youth programs, the board also reinvests funding into the broader community. The Juvenile Justice Board has supported initiatives such as the SCOPE Youth Summit, infant and child CPR classes, senior movie outings at the Socorro Senior Center, and supplies for senior programs. The board has also assisted with the Ocampo Food Drive and other local events.

“We try to support all aspects of the community,” Keller said. “This resource allows us to help infants, seniors, youth — everyone.”

The board is also preparing to expand the Teeniors program at the Senior Center, which pairs teens with seniors to help with technology skills, creating opportunities for intergenerational connection.

Looking ahead, Keller said the board hopes to add a Boys Council program similar to Girls Circle and is actively seeking qualified male mentors with experience working with youth.

Keller emphasized that stability has been a key factor in the program’s success.

“My facilitators and I have been in these roles for many years,” she said. “That stability and historical knowledge makes a huge difference. We’ve built strong relationships with schools and community partners.”