Building Bridges
from Serving Life
to Living It.
(De)serving Life brings hope and transforms lives through trauma-informed legal representation and compassionate support to people navigating New Mexico’s discretionary parole process. Our approach recognizes that both healing and second chances are possible for everyone - including those who have caused serious harm.
Most people who commit violence
have experienced serious harm themselves.
Through healing-centered legal advocacy and reentry services, we support people impacted by extreme prison sentences to rebuild their lives and create safer communities. Our rate of clients granted parole shows that when people receive healing-centered support to address underlying trauma, a ripple effect of hope is created both inside and outside prison walls. By helping people move from serving life to going home and giving back to their communities, we’re building a future where public safety is rooted in healing for everyone affected by harm.
What We Do
(De)serving Life provides comprehensive support for people navigating New Mexico’s discretionary parole process through legal representation, reentry services, and healing-centered programming. Our support includes:
Legal representation to support clients preparing for parole hearings
Reentry support from advocates with lived experience
Referrals for behavioral health services for both clients and their loved ones
Peer-led support networks inside and outside prison
Family reunification support
Policy advocacy for parole reform
Breaking Cycles of Harm
Through Healing.
Unaddressed trauma perpetuates cycles of harm and violence in our communities. We step in to create pathways for healing and transformation for clients serving extreme prison sentences. Through healing-centered parole preparation and reentry planning support, we help individuals affected by extreme sentencing transform their lives and return home to their communities. Together, we can build a future where public safety is rooted in healing – not just punishment.
Transformative Stories
Futures unlocked: Juveniles sentenced to life in prison getting second chance at life decades later
A state law years in the making realized a hope many inmates had once abandoned. But they also face challenges outside prison walls.
By Esteban Candelaria | Published in the Santa Fe New Mexican on Jan 11, 2025
Ending Juvenile Life Without Parole
Convincing New Mexico to stop sentencing children to die in prison required us to let go of “us” versus “them” politics.
By Denali Wilson | Published in Inquest on April 1, 2025
Will there be anything left of me when I leave this New Mexico prison?
If you let it, the system will scrape away all that’s left of your empathy.
By Angelo Sedillo | Published in Source New Mexico on March 4, 2025
Lawmakers shouldn't treat children as adults in legal system
We do not need to dangle punishment as a counterweight to justify investments in youth services to prevent violence.
By John Romero and Albino Garcia Jr. | Published in Santa Fe New Mexican on Mar 21, 2025
Letters from Inside New Mexico’s Prisons
"What Would've I Done Different In My Life Before I Came to Prison?"
Second chances are powerful and (De)serving Life continues to transform lives both inside prison walls and beyond.
Hope Through Accountability & Healing: (De)serving Life’s Impact on Parole Reform
Second chances are powerful and (De)serving Life continues to transform lives both inside prison walls and beyond. Our healing-centered approach helps provide people condemned to a life in prison the support they need to navigate the complex discretionary parole process, helping them take accountability for past harm while demonstrating their readiness for release.
From our clients
My release was just the beginning of the journey, and of the support I have received from (De)serving Life. Since that time, they have helped me navigate the legal challenges of employment and compliance with probation and parole requirements and have engaged with me and others released to help expand and grow those support services to meet the diverse legal and other advocacy needs we have as we navigate our freedom. It is challenging to re-enter society after so many years in prison, and people facing these challenges need and deserve organizations like (De)serving Life to support us.
I got out of prison and (De)serving Life has been there for me every step of the way, both while I was inside and now that I’m free. They’re not just helping me – they’ve become like my support family, helping me build a new life. They got me connected with counseling at Meridian, which has really helped me work through my trust issues. (De)serving Life shows me what real trust looks like by always being there when I need them. They’ve helped me get a job with the city and deal with everyday stuff that comes up. I join their peer groups with other people who served long sentences like me, and it helps to share what we’re going through and how we handle it. It makes a big difference to talk to others who get it.
(De)serving Life is what real support looks like - they stick with you and want you to succeed long-term. They help with everything - mental health, practical stuff, and just being there as people who care. That’s made all the difference as I keep working on healing and reconnecting with my community.
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My release was just the beginning of the journey, and of the support I have received from (De)serving Life. Since that time, they have helped me navigate the legal challenges of employment and compliance with probation and parole requirements and have engaged with me and others released to help expand and grow those support services to meet the diverse legal and other advocacy needs we have as we navigate our freedom. It is challenging to re-enter society after so many years in prison, and people facing these challenges need and deserve organizations like (De)serving Life to support us.
D.M -
I got out of prison and (De)serving Life has been there for me every step of the way, both while I was inside and now that I’m free. They’re not just helping me – they’ve become like my support family, helping me build a new life. They got me connected with counseling at Meridian, which has really helped me work through my trust issues. (De)serving Life shows me what real trust looks like by always being there when I need them. They’ve helped me get a job with the city and deal with everyday stuff that comes up. I join their peer groups with other people who served long sentences like me, and it helps to share what we’re going through and how we handle it. It makes a big difference to talk to others who get it.
(De)serving Life is what real support looks like - they stick with you and want you to succeed long-term. They help with everything - mental health, practical stuff, and just being there as people who care. That’s made all the difference as I keep working on healing and reconnecting with my community.
P.G Las Cruces, NM