 A System in Crisis
Today, the New Mexico Department of Justice released a comprehensive investigative report detailing systemic failures within the Children, Youth and Families Department. Since the Attorney General announced the investigation, less than a year ago, there have been seven children who have died in CYFD custody. The crux of the investigative report is that CYFD failed to put children’s safety before reunification. In addition to the 225-page report, Attorney General Torrez also announced a lawsuit that focuses on CYFD’s misuse of state confidentiality laws to evade accountability and silence critics.
Key findings from today’s announcement include:
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System overwhelmed and unsafe: Caseworkers in Bernalillo County handled 50–60 children each (standard: 15), with some managing up to 150 cases.
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Extreme placement instability: Children in New Mexico foster care experience nearly double the national rate of placement moves, with one child enduring 30+ placements in under six years.
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Children housed in offices: Use of CYFD offices as placements increased nearly 500%, with no documented justification in 708 reviewed cases.
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Serious incidents occurring in offices: In just 4.5 months, 62% of critical incidents (violence, drug use, runaways) occurred in CYFD offices.
"For years, CYFD has operated as if it answers to no one. It stonewalled investigators, retaliated against foster parents, and hid behind confidentiality laws every time someone tried to hold it accountable. That era is over.” - Attorney General Raúl Torrez
The Lawsuit — Enforcing Transparency and Ending Retaliation
Alongside the release of the report, Attorney General Torrez filed a lawsuit to address CYFD’s misuse of state confidentiality laws and its culture of retaliation against caregivers and professionals who raise concerns.
The lawsuit seeks to:
- Stop CYFD from using confidentiality as a shield against oversight
- End punitive removals, threats of prosecution, and retaliation against caregivers and advocates
- Affirm that confidentiality laws protect personal identifying information, not anonymized accounts of CYFD conduct
- Compel lawful transparency under state statute
 Read the Full Investigative Report
The full investigative report, source materials, and a PDF version are available on our microsite:
CYFD Report - New Mexico Department of Justice
Learn More and Share
We encourage you to read the report and share it with your networks to help ensure transparency, accountability, and meaningful reform for New Mexico’s child welfare system.
Thank you for your ongoing commitment to the safety and wellbeing of all children in our state.
Sincerely,
Eric Castillo
Outreach@nmdoj.gov
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