2026 Southwest Crimes Against Children Conference

The Fourth Annual Southwest Crimes Against Children Conference will once again bring together representatives from law enforcement agencies, prosecutors' offices, child and victim advocacy organizations, social services, and the judiciary in a collaborative learning environment. Attendees will have the opportunity to share best practices, exchange knowledge, and receive training on developments in the law, investigative techniques, multidisciplinary protocols, and prosecutorial strategies designed to improve the investigation, prosecution, and judicial handling of child abuse and neglect cases in New Mexico.

The conference will be held over two full days, October 28 and 29, at the Santa Ana Star Casino Hotel in Bernalillo, New Mexico.
 

Due to the overwhelming response in previous years, registration will be capped within each attendee category, including Prosecutors, Law Enforcement, and Victim Advocates, to ensure balanced representation. Although attendance is free through the sponsorship of the 13th Judicial District Attorney's Office and grant funding provided by supporting partners, there are significant costs associated with hosting the conference. Because demand is high and capacity is limited, we respectfully ask that you register only if you are confident you will be able to attend.

The foundation of this free, two-day conference is the belief that a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach, from investigation through prosecution, combined with practical and interactive training, leads to better outcomes for children and families affected by abuse and neglect. By promoting knowledge-sharing, professional development, and cross-disciplinary collaboration, the conference seeks to strengthen investigative practices, enhance prosecutorial effectiveness, and improve judicial responses to these cases.

Conference sessions will include Interactive workshops, case studies, panel discussions, roundtable conversations addressing, and plenary presentations focused on improving awareness, understanding, and outcomes in child abuse investigations and prosecutions. A guiding principle throughout the conference is the reduction of trauma experienced by child victims while promoting justice and accountability.

* The conference is eligible for New Mexico Bar Continuing Legal Education (CLE) accreditation for prosecutors and New Mexico Department of Public Safety (DPS) Biennium Credits for law enforcement personnel