New Mexico Criminal Records

This guide explains how to find New Mexico criminal records, arrest records, court records, inmate information, and the public sex offender registry, and how New Mexico's background-check and record-clearing laws work. It was last reviewed in June 2026 using official New Mexico sources, and it points you to the state and county agencies that hold each type of record. You can also start a name search using the tool on this page.

How do I look up a criminal record in New Mexico?

There are three main ways to find New Mexico criminal record information:

• Request your own record from the state. The New Mexico Department of Public Safety (DPS) operates the State Central Repository for Criminal History, which holds felony, misdemeanor, and DWI arrest records statewide. Any individual may request a copy of their own record by completing a notarized Authorization for Release of Information form and paying a $15.00 fee (money order or cashier's check). Requests are submitted by mail to the DPS Law Enforcement Records Bureau. Processing typically takes 7-15 business days.
• Court records at the county level. Individual case files are generally public and are held by the court in the county or district where the case was filed. The statewide NM Case Lookup tool lets you search records from all New Mexico courts - district, magistrate, metropolitan, and appellate - at no charge, with no registration required.
• An online people-search tool like the one on this page, which compiles public-record data from many sources into one report. These tools are for personal knowledge only and are not a substitute for an official DPS records check or an FCRA-compliant background check.

Third parties - such as employers and landlords - cannot request someone else's statewide DPS criminal history unless specifically authorized by law. A name-and-date-of-birth search can return matches that belong to someone else; a fingerprint-based check is the only way to confirm a record truly belongs to a specific person.

Are New Mexico criminal records public?

It depends on which record. The DPS State Central Repository is not open to third-party public searches - it releases records only to the individual subject or to authorized agencies. Court case records, on the other hand, are presumptively public under the New Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act (NMSA 1978, § 14-2-1 et seq.) and can be viewed or requested from the court clerk or searched online through the NM Case Lookup system. So while you cannot pull someone else's statewide rap sheet, you can generally look up their individual court cases through the courts.

Where can I look up arrest records in New Mexico?

Arrest records are kept by the agency that made the arrest - a city police department, county sheriff, or the New Mexico State Police. Many county sheriffs publish an online jail roster showing recent bookings. The DPS State Central Repository holds felony, misdemeanor, and DWI arrest records but restricts public access. Court case records, which often reflect arrests, are publicly searchable through NM Case Lookup. An arrest record documents that a person was taken into custody; it is not a conviction and does not prove guilt.

Are New Mexico arrest records public?

Generally yes, with limits. Law enforcement records in New Mexico are subject to disclosure under the Inspection of Public Records Act, so basic booking and arrest information at the county or city level is usually available on request. However, the DPS statewide criminal history database is restricted to the individual and authorized agencies. Arrests that have been expunged by a court order are removed from public access.

How do I find court records in New Mexico?

New Mexico has a unified statewide court case lookup tool. The NM Case Lookup at caselookup.nmcourts.gov is free and requires no registration; it covers all New Mexico courts including district, magistrate, metropolitan, and appellate courts. You can search by a party's name or a case number. Data for district and magistrate courts is updated within 24 hours. The New Mexico Courts public records page explains how to submit an Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA) request for records not available through the online lookup. To request a copy of a specific case file, contact the clerk of the court where the case was filed.

How do I look up warrants in New Mexico?

Warrants in New Mexico are issued by courts. The NM Case Lookup system can surface open warrant information attached to a case record. You can also contact the clerk of the court where charges would be filed or reach out to the county sheriff's office directly. Some county sheriffs post warrant information on their websites. Active warrants may also appear on third-party background reports, but the issuing court is the authoritative source.

Do arrests show up on background checks in New Mexico?

For employment, tenant, and credit screening conducted through a consumer reporting agency, both the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and New Mexico's own NMSA 1978, § 56-3-6 control what can be reported. Under New Mexico law, arrests and non-conviction records generally cannot be reported once they are more than seven years old. Convictions may appear on a report, but are also subject to the seven-year limit under New Mexico's statute. If a record has been expunged under New Mexico law, it cannot be reported on an employment background check regardless of its age.

How far back does a criminal background check go in New Mexico?

New Mexico is a seven-year state. Under NMSA 1978, § 56-3-6, a consumer reporting agency (background-check company) may not report criminal convictions, arrests, or other adverse items that are more than seven years old. Key points:

• The seven-year clock generally runs from the date of disposition, release, or parole - whichever is most recent.
• Arrests that did not lead to a conviction are generally restricted from reporting, especially after seven years.
• The FCRA adds a federal overlay: if a job pays $75,000 or more per year, the federal seven-year cap on non-conviction records may not apply, though New Mexico's own statute may still limit what is reportable.
• Expunged records cannot be reported at all.

How do I find someone in jail or prison in New Mexico?

It depends on where the person is held:

• State prison or parole. Use the New Mexico Corrections Department's free Offender Search at cd.nm.gov. You can search by first name, last name, or NMCD number. The tool covers people incarcerated in state facilities and those on probation or parole supervision. Prison data is updated nightly; probation and parole data is updated in real time. The NMCD does not have jurisdiction over county detention facilities.
• County jail. People awaiting trial or serving shorter sentences are usually in a county detention center. Check the sheriff's website for the relevant county - many post an online inmate roster.
• Federal custody. For federal cases, use the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator rather than NMCD.

How do I find out if someone is on probation or parole in New Mexico?

State parole and probation (called "supervised release" or "community supervision") are administered by the New Mexico Corrections Department. A person's supervision status may appear in the NMCD Offender Search tool. Probation lets a person serve a sentence in the community under conditions set by the court rather than in prison; parole is supervised release after a period of incarceration. The sentencing court's case records are also a useful source for probation details.

What crimes are felonies in New Mexico?

New Mexico divides felonies into four degrees plus a separate capital designation, under NMSA 1978, § 31-18-15:

• Capital felony (first-degree murder): life in prison. New Mexico abolished the death penalty in 2009.
• First-degree felony: basic sentence of 18 years in prison and a fine up to $15,000. Examples include first-degree criminal sexual penetration and kidnapping.
• Second-degree felony: basic sentence of 9 years and a fine up to $10,000.
• Third-degree felony: basic sentence of 3 years and a fine up to $5,000.
• Fourth-degree felony: basic sentence of 18 months and a fine up to $5,000. This is the lowest felony tier.

Courts may impose aggravated sentences (one-third more than the basic term) or mitigated sentences (one-third less) based on the specific facts of the case.

What crimes are misdemeanors in New Mexico?

New Mexico divides lower-level crimes into two categories, under NMSA 1978, § 31-19-1:

• Misdemeanor: punishable by more than six months but less than one year in county jail and a fine up to $1,000. Examples include certain assault and battery offenses.
• Petty misdemeanor: punishable by up to six months in county jail and a fine up to $500. Examples include minor disorderly conduct and simple traffic violations that carry a criminal classification.

Are traffic violations crimes in New Mexico?

Most routine traffic infractions in New Mexico are civil matters punishable by a fine only, with no jail time and no criminal record. More serious driving offenses such as driving while intoxicated (DWI) are charged as misdemeanors or felonies and do create a criminal record. A first-offense DWI is typically a misdemeanor; a fourth or subsequent DWI is a fourth-degree felony. DWI convictions are specifically excluded from expungement eligibility under New Mexico law.

Is the New Mexico sex offender registry public?

Yes. Under the New Mexico Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (NMSA 1978, § 29-11A-1 et seq.), information about registered sex offenders is made available to the public. The New Mexico DPS Law Enforcement Records Bureau manages the registry and provides a public search tool powered by OffenderWatch, which lets you search by name, address, ZIP code, or county to find registered offenders in a given area. Not all registrants are publicly listed - only those convicted of qualifying offenses on or after July 1, 1995 (or those who were incarcerated or on probation/parole as of that date) appear in the public database.

Can a sex offender be removed from the New Mexico registry?

Under NMSA 1978, § 29-11A-4 and related provisions, registration duration depends on the offense. Most registrants must register for ten years; those convicted of more serious offenses must register for life. After completing the ten-year minimum without any new offenses, an eligible registrant may petition the court for removal from the duty to register. Lifetime registrants are generally not eligible for removal unless their conviction is overturned or expunged. Eligibility is fact-specific, so consulting an attorney is advisable.

How do I clear or expunge my criminal record in New Mexico?

New Mexico's Criminal Records Expungement Act (NMSA 1978, §§ 29-3A-1 through 29-3A-7), which took effect January 1, 2020, allows a qualifying person to petition a court to limit public access to their criminal records. There are two main pathways:

• Release without conviction. If you were arrested but not convicted (charges dismissed, acquittal, or no charges filed), you may petition for expungement one year after the final disposition of the case (NMSA 1978, § 29-3A-4).
• Expungement after conviction. Waiting periods run from the date you completed your entire sentence (NMSA 1978, § 29-3A-5): two years for a municipal ordinance violation or misdemeanor; four years for a fourth-degree felony or aggravated battery misdemeanor; six years for a third-degree felony; eight years for a second-degree felony; ten years for a first-degree felony or any offense under the Crimes Against Household Members Act.

Certain offenses are permanently ineligible, including crimes committed against a child, offenses causing great bodily harm or death, sex offenses as defined in § 29-11A-3, embezzlement, and DWI offenses. Cannabis-related charges for offenses no longer criminal may qualify for automatic expungement. Petition forms and step-by-step instructions are available on the New Mexico Courts expungement page.

Do I need a lawyer to expunge my record in New Mexico?

You are not legally required to hire a lawyer. The New Mexico Courts publish petition forms (Forms 4-951, 4-952, and 4-953) and step-by-step self-help guides at no charge. That said, the eligibility rules are detailed - particularly around waiting periods, ineligible offenses, and the requirement to notify the arresting agency and district attorney - and a procedural mistake can cost you the chance to clear the record. Many people use a private attorney or a free legal-aid clinic, especially for felony cases.

How long does a felony stay on your record in New Mexico?

A New Mexico felony conviction stays on your record permanently unless you obtain expungement through a court petition under NMSA 1978, § 29-3A-5. There is no automatic deletion of a conviction after any number of years. The seven-year rule described above limits what a background-check company may report on a consumer report; it does not erase the underlying record. If expungement is granted, the record is removed from public access and may not be reported on an employment background check.

Are juvenile criminal records private in New Mexico?

Juvenile records in New Mexico are generally confidential and are not available to the public or to ordinary background checks. They can still be accessed by law enforcement, courts, and certain agencies. If a juvenile is tried as an adult, the resulting adult conviction follows the same rules as any adult criminal record. Juveniles adjudicated delinquent may have their records sealed, and in some circumstances may petition for early removal from sex-offender registration requirements. The Children's Court division of the district courts handles juvenile matters.

Bernalillo County criminal records

Bernalillo County is the most populous county in New Mexico, home to Albuquerque and roughly 679,000 residents. Criminal cases filed in Bernalillo County are handled by the Second Judicial District Court, located at 400 Lomas Blvd. NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102 (phone: 505-841-8400). Case records can be searched online for free through the statewide NM Case Lookup system - no account required. To request copies of specific case documents, contact the court clerk's office directly. The Metropolitan Court of Bernalillo County handles misdemeanor and traffic cases at a separate facility.

Official New Mexico criminal record sources

• NM DPS Law Enforcement Records Bureau - Background Checks - how to request your own criminal history from the State Central Repository ($15 fee, notarized form required).
• NM Case Lookup - free statewide case search covering district, magistrate, metropolitan, and appellate courts; no registration required.
• New Mexico Corrections Department Offender Search - find people in state prison or on probation/parole by name or NMCD number.
• New Mexico DPS - Sex Offender Registry - public registry of registered sex offenders searchable by name, address, or ZIP code.
• New Mexico Courts - Expungement - petition forms and self-help instructions for record clearing under NMSA §§ 29-3A-1 to 29-3A-7.
• Second Judicial District Court (Bernalillo County) - the district court for Albuquerque and New Mexico's most populous county.
• New Mexico Courts - nmcourts.gov - the state judiciary homepage with a court locator, case lookup, and self-help resources.

Disclosure: criminal.com may earn a commission when you use the people-search tool on this page, which is powered by a third-party background-check service. Results from such tools are for your personal knowledge only and may not be used to make decisions about employment, housing, credit, tenant screening, or any other purpose covered by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). An arrest record or mugshot is not proof of guilt. This page is general information about New Mexico public records, not legal advice; for advice about your situation, consult an attorney. Information was last reviewed in June 2026 and laws may change.