A state lawmaker introduced a bill that, if enacted, would mandate the Department of Health to create a program to rehabilitate ex convicts whom had committed a crime under the influence of drugs and after their sentences.
The proposal was introduced by Assemblyman Carlos Torres, a Tijuana member of the National Action Party.
The bill includes provisions to provide rehabilitating therapy for up to a year and only if the ex convict requests it.
The lawmaker said the goal of the bill is to address safety issues raised by the link between drug addiction and crime, as well as to reduce recidivism.
According to the state Addiction Observatory last year 56.6 percent of men and 59.4 percent of women who committed a crime had consumed alcohol, cocaine, crack or methamphetamines.
The bill would change the state’s Public Health Law and the Penal Code.
City Hall incident under investigation
The state Human Rights Commission said the investigation regarding the Feb. 13 removal of protestors from outside Mexicali City Hall remains under investigation.
The incident led authorities to the arrest of about a dozen protestors.
The commission opened a file in order to investigate potential violations of protestors’ human rights.
Commission President Melba Olvera has already met with those affected, who confirmed their allegations against the city.
The agency has also requested information from authorities involved regarding the arrest of protestors and the access of lawyers with their clients, she said.
The commission asked the city and the attorney general’s office preventative measures to protect arrestees’ human rights.
In the meantime, the commission is still gathering information about the incident.
Three caught for carjacking
Three individuals were arrested early Monday for allegedly robbing a vehicle, said the Municipal Public Safety Department.
Authorities said at 4:20 a.m. police officers found and arrested Erick Ramón “Doe,” 16, Víctor Gerardo “Doe,” 20 and Jennifer “Doe,” 20.
The trio was arrested by San Felipe Highway and Héctor Terán Avenue in southern Mexicali.
Police agents found in the Colonia Hidalgo neighborhood area a white 1997 Ford F-150 pickup.
Police officers attempted to stop the driver but the suspect did not comply with police commands and a chase began.
The policemen were able to stop the driver moments later.
Inside the pickup a five inch long knife was located.
The 36-year-old male victim told police officers that the men and the woman brandished the knife in order to rob his vehicle.
The suspects were transported to the police headquarters.
Hunting season comes to an end
A state official said 4,527 hunting ribbons were provided to hunters during the 2016-2017 season that came to an end Sunday.
The Secretary of Environmental Protection Thelma Castañeda said the number of ribbons approved this year surpasses the 4,209 of the season before.
Each ribbon is for a single animal.
Around 1,400 hunters visited the state to hunt several types of birds, rabbits and deer.
Statewide 292 companies are registered with the state to provide services to hunters, most of them located in Ensenada and only 40 in Mexicali.
Baja California is very attractive to hunters given its ways of communications, safety, hotel offerings and the quality service provided by companies, Castañeda said.
The state received over 2 million pesos or $100,000 for licenses.
Hunter expenditure in hotel, food and others reached 4.1 million pesos during this season, an increase compared to the 3.6 million spent the season before.
