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  1. Bernalillo County Court
  2. Bernalillo County Arrest Records

Bernalillo County, New Mexico Arrest Records

According to NM Stat § 29-3A-2(A), arrest records are documents prepared by a law enforcement official that identify a person under arrest or investigation for a crime. These records include fingerprints, photographs, and booking sheets. Arrest records and information contained in them are public under the Arrest Record Information Act and the New Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA). These Acts also cover the dissemination of criminal offender record information.

Are Arrest Records Public Information in Bernalillo, New Mexico?

Yes. The New Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA) permits anyone to review all public arrest records kept by state and local law enforcement agencies. Bernalillo County law enforcement agencies release arrest records on their online databases and in person upon request (N.M. Stat. § 29-10-6). However, some arrest records or information may be unavailable to the public. According to NM Stat §29-10-4, any arrest record information that reveals confidential information, sources, methods, or individuals released without charges is deemed confidential.

Bernalillo County Arrest Search

Individuals may conduct Bernalillo County arrest searches at the New Mexico Corrections Department (NMCD) or federal law enforcement agencies. Most agencies have databases where requesters can find arrest records without charges. They also accept in-person requests during regular business hours. The NMCD provides arrest information for over 5,000 inmates online through the Offender Search portal. Users will need to enter the offender’s first and/or last name or NMCD number to find the desired record. Alternatively, requesters may obtain copies of arrest records of Bernalillo County inmates in person at the NMCD Adult Prisons where they are incarcerated.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) maintains an Inmate Locator that allows record seekers to find arrest records for Bernalillo County federal offenders by number or name. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) also provides access to its arrest records through the Online Detainee Locator System. The search criteria are A-Number or biographical details.

Bernalillo County Inmate Locator

The Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) offers several inmate locators for free arrest record searches. Interested persons should visit the MDC official website and select the "Arrest List" or "Inmate Custody & Release Information" link on the left navigation pane. The Arrest List is a good place to find arrest information for individuals currently booked into the jail. The search criteria is a booking date.

On clicking the "Inmate Custody & Release Information" tab, select "Inmate Custody & Release List" from the dropdown. Then, click the "Inmate Custody List" or "Inmate Release List" link to view custody or release information. Users who click the "Inmate Custody List" link may click the search button to display the entire custody list, or provide an arrest date, inmate ID, first name, or last name to narrow results. Those who click the "Inmate Release List" link will find inmates who have been released within the past two weeks.

Active Warrant Search in Bernalillo County

Per N.M. R. Crim. P. Dist. Ct. 5-208, arrest warrants are issued when a court receives an indictment or a sworn written statement from a district attorney, a police officer, or an alleged victim that establishes probable cause that an accused person committed a crime. These warrants are usually directed to a law enforcement officer (NM Stat § 31-1-4). Bernalillo County arrest warrants contain the following information:

  • The judge’s signature and the offense charged
  • The defendant’s name, but if the name is unknown, any name or an identifying description that can help locate the defendant.
  • A command that the accused be apprehended and brought before the issuing court.

The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) manages warrant information through its Administrative Services Division’s Warrant Unit. The easiest way to conduct an active warrant search is via the Warrant Search database. Users can find desired records by name, warrant type, or warrant year. Individuals may also visit the warrant unit in person during business hours to find warrant information. The office is located at the address below:

Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office

Warrant Unit

415 Silver Ave SW

Albuquerque, NM 87102

How to Find Arrest Records for Free in Bernalillo County

Most law enforcement agencies in Bernalillo County offer free online avenues for the public to find arrest records. For example, the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) provides arrest information without charges through its online portals, which are searchable by booking date, name, inmate ID, or arrest date. The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) also has a Warrant Search tool that individuals can use to retrieve information about individuals with active warrants in the county. The search criteria are by name, warrant type, or warrant year.

Free online databases are easy to navigate, but they prioritize recent arrest information. Typically, they exclude older arrests, confidential cases, and expunged arrest records. In addition, free portals do not allow users to download copies of arrest documents and may require an in-person visit to obtain them.

Bernalillo County Arrest Report

Arrest records and arrest reports are two different documents that serve different purposes and levels of detail. An arrest record contains different documents created when a person is booked into the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC). It contains the arrested person’s identifying information, fingerprints, photographs, and booking sheets.

Conversely, an arrest report is a document that the arresting officer provides that contains a detailed account of the incident. It describes the offense the arrestee is accused of, how the arrest occurred, observations made at the scene, and witness statements. Arrest records are available to the public, and some information contained in them is available on online databases. Arrest reports, on the other hand, are confidential and are not available through free online databases.

How to Get an Arrest Record Expunged in Bernalillo County

An expungement is the removal of an arrest record from public access (NM Stat § 29-3A-2(B)). Individuals can expunge their arrest records if they were victims of identity theft, were released without conviction, or were convicted of a crime but have completed their sentence and paid the necessary fees. Arrest records associated with identity theft do not have a waiting period, but other crimes do. For example, anyone released without conviction may file for expungement of their arrest records one year after the final disposition date of the case. Applicants should review the Criminal Record Expungement Act for specific details of the eligibility criteria.

Eligible applicants may file the appropriate Petition of Expungement Application Form (Identity Theft, Upon Conviction or Release without Conviction) with the Second Judicial District Court. The filing fee is $132, which is payable by money order, cash, cashier’s check, or credit/debit card. Any petitioner unable to pay the filing fee may complete an Application for Free Process and Affidavit of Indigency (Form 4-222 NMRA). The petitioner must mail a copy of the file-stamped petition to the relevant agencies, including the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, the Bernalillo County District Attorney, and the NM Department of Public Safety (DPS). These agencies have about 60 days to either file an objection or a Notice of Non-Objection. After 63 days have passed since the petition was sent to the relevant agencies, the applicants must complete the Notice of Completion of Briefing and the Affirmation in Support of Petition for Expungement (if they were released without conviction). The court will review all filed documents, set a hearing date, and notify the petitioner. The court can grant or deny the petition after the hearing and has 60 days from the hearing to file a written order granting or denying it.

How Do You Remove Bernalillo County Arrest Records From the Internet?

Removing arrest records published on the official websites of Bernalillo County law enforcement agencies generally requires an expungement order. Residents should file the appropriate Petition of Expungement Application Form with the Second Judicial District Court for a fee of $132. They may file an Application for Free Process and Affidavit of Indigency Form alongside their request form if paying the filing fee is a problem. If the judge grants the petition, the expungement order will be sent to all relevant agencies to update their databases. Once that is done, the petitioner’s arrest records will no longer appear on the official websites of Bernalillo County law enforcement agencies.

What Do Public Bernalillo County Arrest Records Contain?

Public arrest records in Bernalillo County include the following information:

  • Booking date and day
  • Admission date and time
  • Arrest date, time, and location
  • The arrestee’s full name, birth year, and mugshot
  • The name of the arresting agency and housing facility
  • Person ID, booking number, and booking time
  • Case number, warrant type, and warrant description
  • Bail type and amount, paid date, release type, release date, and judge