New Mexico Arrest Records

Is New Mexico an Open Arrest Records State?

New Mexico is an open arrest records state pursuant to the Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA), NMSA 1978, §§ 14-2-1 to 14-2-12. This comprehensive legislation establishes the public's right to access government records, including arrest records maintained by law enforcement agencies throughout the state. The statute explicitly states that "every person has a right to inspect public records of this state" with limited exceptions as prescribed by law.

The New Mexico Department of Public Safety maintains and processes criminal history information through the Law Enforcement Records Bureau, which serves as the central repository for arrest records in the state. This transparency in record-keeping serves multiple public interests, including:

Ensuring accountability of law enforcement agencies
Providing necessary information for background checks
Supporting journalistic investigations of public interest
Enabling researchers to analyze crime patterns and trends
Allowing citizens to remain informed about criminal activity in their communities

The IPRA requires custodians of public records to provide reasonable access during regular business hours and to respond to requests within 15 calendar days. While certain sensitive information may be redacted from arrest records, the fundamental principle of public access remains intact throughout New Mexico's record-keeping system.

How to Look Up New Mexico Arrest Records in 2025

Members of the public seeking arrest records in New Mexico have multiple methods available to access this information. The state has implemented several systems to facilitate public access to arrest records while maintaining compliance with relevant privacy laws.

Online Access Options

The New Mexico Department of Public Safety provides digital access to arrest records through their online portal. Citizens may utilize the New Mexico Corrections Department Offender Search to locate information about individuals currently in custody or under supervision. This service is available 24 hours per day, seven days per week.

In-Person Requests

Individuals may submit requests in person at the following locations:

New Mexico Department of Public Safety
4491 Cerrillos Road
Santa Fe, NM 87507
(505) 827-9300
Department of Public Safety

Public counter hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, excluding state holidays.

New Mexico Corrections Department
4337 NM-14
Santa Fe, NM 87508
(505) 827-8600
New Mexico Corrections Department

Public counter hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, excluding state holidays.

Written Requests

Written requests for arrest records may be submitted via postal mail to either of the above addresses. Pursuant to NMSA 1978, § 14-2-8, all written requests must include:

Requestor's name, address, and telephone number
Description of the records sought with reasonable particularity
Date of request

The custodian of records must respond within 15 calendar days after receiving a written request. If the request is denied, the custodian must provide a written explanation citing the specific legal authority for the denial.

Contents of a New Mexico Arrest Record

New Mexico arrest records contain standardized information as mandated by the New Mexico Administrative Code, Title 10, Chapter 29, Part 7. These records typically include the following elements:

Subject's full legal name and any known aliases
Date of birth and demographic information
Physical description including height, weight, and identifying marks
Photograph (mugshot) taken at time of booking
Fingerprint classification and identification numbers
Date, time, and location of arrest
Arresting agency and officer information
Statutory charges filed at time of arrest
Case disposition information when available
Court docket numbers and judicial proceedings
Detention facility information if applicable

It should be noted that pursuant to NMSA 1978, § 32A-2-32, juvenile arrest records are subject to stricter confidentiality requirements and may not be accessible through standard public record requests unless specifically authorized by court order.

Understanding the New Mexico Open Records Act

The New Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA), codified at NMSA 1978, §§ 14-2-1 through 14-2-12, establishes the framework for public access to government records in the state. This legislation is founded on the principle that a democratic government functions best when citizens have broad access to information about governmental activities.

Key provisions of the IPRA include:

A presumption of openness for all public records
Designation of records custodians within each public body
Procedures for requesting and responding to records requests
Limited exceptions for confidential information
Enforcement mechanisms including civil penalties for non-compliance

The New Mexico Attorney General's Office provides oversight and enforcement of the IPRA. The Attorney General has published a comprehensive compliance guide available to both government agencies and the public to facilitate understanding of the law's requirements.

The IPRA works in conjunction with the Criminal Records Expungement Act (NMSA 1978, §§ 29-3A-1 to 29-3A-9) to balance public access with individual privacy rights in appropriate circumstances.

Expungement of Arrest Records in New Mexico

The Criminal Records Expungement Act, effective January 1, 2020, provides a pathway for eligible individuals to petition for the expungement of arrest and conviction records under specific circumstances. This legislation, codified at NMSA 1978, §§ 29-3A-1 through 29-3A-9, establishes procedures for removing eligible records from public access.

Eligibility Requirements

Eligibility for expungement varies based on the nature of the record:

Arrests not resulting in conviction: May be eligible for immediate expungement
Misdemeanor convictions: Generally eligible after one year following completion of sentence
Fourth-degree felonies: Generally eligible after five years following completion of sentence
Third-degree felonies: Generally eligible after six years following completion of sentence
Second-degree felonies: Generally eligible after eight years following completion of sentence

Certain offenses are statutorily ineligible for expungement, including but not limited to:

Crimes against children
Great bodily harm offenses
Embezzlement of public funds
Driving under the influence

Application Process

The expungement process requires petitioners to:

File a petition in the district court where the arrest or conviction occurred
Provide notice to the district attorney's office
Attend a hearing if required by the court
Pay applicable filing fees (may be waived for indigent petitioners)

Upon granting an expungement, the court will order all relevant agencies to remove the records from public access. For technical assistance regarding expungements, individuals may contact:

New Mexico Department of Public Safety
Law Enforcement Records Bureau
4491 Cerrillos Road
Santa Fe, NM 87507
(505) 827-9181
Expungement Information

How to Find Local Arrests in New Mexico?

Local arrest information in New Mexico is maintained by various law enforcement agencies at the municipal and county levels. Members of the public seeking information about recent arrests may utilize several resources:

County Sheriff's Offices

Each of New Mexico's 33 counties maintains sheriff's offices that process and document arrests within their jurisdictions. Many of these offices provide online inmate lookup services or publish daily booking reports. For example:

Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office
400 Roma Ave NW
Albuquerque, NM 87102
(505) 468-7100
Public counter hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office
35 Camino Justicia
Santa Fe, NM 87508
(505) 986-2455
Public counter hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Municipal Police Departments

City police departments throughout New Mexico maintain records of arrests within their jurisdictions. Many departments provide online access to recent arrest information or daily incident logs. For example:

Albuquerque Police Department
400 Roma Ave NW
Albuquerque, NM 87102
(505) 242-2677
Public counter hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Las Cruces Police Department
217 E Picacho Ave
Las Cruces, NM 88001
(575) 528-4200
Public counter hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

New Mexico Courts

The New Mexico Judiciary provides access to court records through its Case Lookup portal. This system allows searches for criminal cases that result from arrests throughout the state. While not a direct arrest record system, it provides information about court proceedings related to arrests.

Individuals under supervision of the New Mexico Probation and Parole Division may also appear in searchable databases maintained by the Corrections Department.

Search Arrest Records in New Mexico

Counties

Bernalillo Lea Los Alamos Mora Roosevelt Sandoval Sierra Taos Torrance Union