Bernalillo County, New Mexico Inmate Search
Searching for an inmate in Bernalillo County, New Mexico, typically requires contacting the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC). This sort of records search is available to the public under New Mexico’s Public Records Law, which mandates the dissemination of information pertaining to a government agency’s public functions. The search returns crucial details on a detained person’s custody and incarceration status at the MDC.
Members of the public can also conduct inmate searches through the New Mexico Corrections Department (NMCD) and the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). However, these inquiries are intended to locate persons who were apprehended in Bernalillo County, or in other jurisdictions, and subsequently moved to state or federal custody. The DOC maintains records for persons incarcerated in state prisons, while the BOP manages records for individuals federally imprisoned.
A key procedural distinction in Bernalillo County is that the Metropolitan Detention Center functions solely as the central adult jail facility. Juveniles are not housed at the MDC; they are detained in a separate Youth Services Center. Further, police departments within Bernalillo County-such as the Albuquerque PD and Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO), which oversee the county’s primary urban and unincorporated population centers-may temporarily hold suspects for initial processing and questioning. Stays at police stations, however, are intended to be brief, and charged individuals are transferred to the MDC for long-term housing.
How to Find an Inmate in Bernalillo County Jail
Individuals generally have the following options for finding records relating to an individual imprisoned at or released from the Bernalillo County Jail (MDC):
- Access any of the MDC’s official inmate (jail) rosters or lists.
- Contact the agency’s Information Desk directly via phone or email (Available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.).
- Submit a formal Public Information Request to the department or email questions to MDCPublicRecords@bernco.gov. Fees are assessed per page, photo, or CD requested.
Metropolitan Detention Center
100 Deputy Dean Miera Drive Southwest
Albuquerque, NM 87151
How to Use the Bernalillo County Jail Roster
The MDC maintains three jail rosters based on the specific information an individual seeks.
- Inmate Custody List: A listing of individuals currently imprisoned in the Metropolitan Detention Center.
- Inmate Release List: A listing of individuals who have been released from the MDC within the last two weeks.
- Arrest List: The most recent seven-day bookings at the MDC by date.
Here’s how to access any of the three:
- Navigate to the MDC’s official website: Visit https://www.bernco.gov/metropolitan-detention-center/ in a web browser.
- Access the Preferred Search Tool: On the homepage, scroll down and click "Learn More" next to any of the search tools: Inmate Custody List, Inmate Release List, or Arrest List.
-
View Listings:
- Inmate Release List: Clicking "Learn More" will display release records immediately.
- Inmate Custody List: Clicking "Learn More" opens a new page. From there, select "Inmate Custody List" to access the main search interface. Searches can be conducted by arrest date, inmate ID, or first/last name (partial names are accepted). On the results page, select an inmate’s name, booking number, or ID number to view additional details.
- Arrest List: Clicking "Learn More" opens a new page. From there, select "MDC Bookings" to access recent arrests at the MDC, organized by booking date.
What Information is Included in the Bernalillo County Inmate Roster
The following information is available to the public upon accessing the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center’s jail/inmate rosters:
Inmate Release List:
Data disseminated about inmates released from the MDC includes
- Person/Inmate ID
- Full Name (Last, First, Middle)
- Release Date
Inmate Custody List:
Data disseminated about inmates presently in custody at the MDC includes
- Personal Data: Full name, photograph, booking date and number, person/inmate ID, active holds (if any), year of birth (YOB), and housing unit
- Admission Details: Admission date and time
- Arrest Information: Arresting agency, arrest date/time, and arrest location
- Charges: Court case number, type, count, statute, and description
- Warrants: Type and description
- Bail Details: Type, amount, paid date, release type, and release
Arrest List:
This directory displays all persons booked into the MDC on a particular date within the most recent week, including
- Full Name
- Arresting Agency
- Person ID
- Birth Year
- Booking Number
- Booking Time
It should be noted that records obtainable from the MDC jail rosters are only those deemed open to the public under the New Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA). Legally or judicially exempt information, such as juvenile records, is unavailable to the general public.
Contact Details for Bernalillo County Jail or Sheriff’s Office
Individuals can contact staff at the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center using these details:
|
Agency |
Physical Address |
Phone Number |
|---|---|---|
|
Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center |
(505) 839-8700 |
Jail Facility Overview in Bernalillo County
The Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center, located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is a secure jail facility covering approximately 600,000 square feet on 155 acres. The center houses only adult inmates (males and females).
Opened in 2003, the MDC has a maximum operational capacity of 1,950 inmates. As of 2024, the center’s average in-house population was 1,729, with an additional 49 inmates participating in the Community Custody Program (CCP).
The Bernalillo County Youth Services Center (BCYSC) is the county’s principal juvenile detention facility. This 78-bed facility, consisting of 6 living units (5 male and 1 female), is where juveniles accused of delinquent acts are held while awaiting a court hearing. Real-time population figures for the BCYSC are accessible via the YSC Population Dashboard.
|
Agency |
Office and Mail Address |
Phone Number |
Office Hours |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center |
100 Deputy Dean Miera Drive Southwest Albuquerque, NM 87151 |
(505) 839-8700 |
Administrative/Office: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. MDC Information Desk: 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. | |
|
Bernalillo County Youth Services Center |
5100 Second Street Northwest Suite D Albuquerque, NM 87107 |
Main Line: (505) 468-7236 Complaint/Grievance Hotline: (505) 468-7708 |
Office: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. |
How to Send Money to an Inmate in Metropolitan Detention Center
There are three convenient ways to add funds to an inmate’s account at the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center:
- Online/Web
- Phone
- Walk-in Retailer
The jail’s third-party vendors manage these deposit options, and detailed instructions for each method can be found on the MDC’s official website.
Inmate Search by Jail Facility
Individuals who wish to look up information about a Bernalillo County inmate can access any of the MDC’s three jail rosters: the Inmate Custody List, the Inmate Release List, or the Arrest List, as previously explained.
Unlike adult inmate records at the MDC, information concerning juveniles detained at the Bernalillo County Youth Services Center is legally confidential, as mandated by the New Mexico Children’s Code (NMSA 1978, § 32A-2-32). The law permits dissemination only to entitled parties, such as the child’s attorney, law enforcement, parents or guardians, and the court. Due to these legal restrictions, details about a juvenile’s detention, charges, or release are excluded from public rosters, and BCYSC staff are prohibited from disclosing such information to the general public.
|
Facility Name |
Availability of Public Inmate Search/Roster |
How to Find Information |
Limitations/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center |
Yes |
Access the MDC’s Inmate Custody List, Inmate Release List, or Arrest List. All three tools are featured on the jail’s website. |
No confidential information, such as an inmate’s Social Security number (SSN), is displayed. |
|
Bernalillo County Youth Services Center |
No |
Contact the BCYSC directly. Proof of identity or legal relationship is required. |
NMSA 1978, § 32A-2-32 prohibits general disclosure to protect minors’ privacy. |
Bernalillo County Visitation Rules and Schedules
The procedure for visiting inmates at the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center differs depending on whether the visit is professional or personal.
Personal visits primarily utilize remote video calls. Visitors must register for an account through the jail’s contracted vendor’s website (see instructions for setting up a visitor account and starting remote visits). The charge for each visit is 25 cents per minute, with a maximum session time of 30 minutes. Visits can be scheduled between 8:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., seven days a week.
Visitors must adhere to all rules, as the jail monitors and records every call. Failure to comply may result in suspension or a permanent ban from visiting. Some prohibited conduct includes
- Engaging in abusive behavior
- Showing nudity or sexual content
- Participating in any illegal activity
- Violating court-ordered contact restrictions
Inmates at the MDC are restricted to a maximum of two personal visits per week. Visits are not permitted for inmates in intake areas.
To visit juveniles at the Bernalillo County Youth Services Center, one can consult the center’s Visiting Hours and Policies.
Mailing and Commissary Information
To send personal mail to an inmate at the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center, all senders must adhere to the facility’s policies.
Senders must know the inmate’s name and number (available from the Inmate Custody List, as explained previously), and only the following items are accepted:
- Letters written on plain or ruled white paper. A maximum limit of 4 pages/items per letter applies.
- Drawing made with a pencil or colored pencil
- Pictures with watercolors, crayons, and markers
- Photographs
- Greeting cards and postcards
Prohibited items/materials include
- Packages
- Publications (books, newspapers, magazines, periodicals, journals, and newsletters)
- Third-class mail, or junk mail
- Lewd material (i.e., any obscene material or material characterized by, or intended to excite, crude sexual desire). For example, nude photographs or depictions
- Violent material or material that threatens facility security, such as instructions for the manufacture of drugs, explosives, or weapons, and materials that advocate terrorism or criminal behavior
Mail intended for an inmate at the MDC is processed through a third-party digital scanning service. Every mail is opened, scanned electronically, and then delivered to the inmate’s tablet. To ensure personal mail is properly delivered to an MDC inmate, individuals should use the mailing address specified on the center’s website.
Note: The preceding text pertains solely to personal mail addressed to an MDC inmate. Other approved documents, such as legal or privileged mail and internal education materials, are sent directly to the Metropolitan Detention Center. The MDC can be contacted at (505) 839-8700 for mailing guidelines.
Guidelines for sending care packages to an inmate or depositing funds into an inmate’s account for commissary purchases are provided on the MDC’s website.