Albuquerque Arrest Records

When law enforcement in Albuquerque takes someone into custody, the incident is documented in an arrest record, which becomes one of the many components of the broader New Mexico Court Records system. In Albuquerque, an officer places someone under arrest when there is probable cause and a reasonable belief that the person has committed a crime, whether a misdemeanor or a felony. Usually, a magistrate judge issues the warrant after reviewing an affidavit from law enforcement officers.

The Albuquerque Police Department is the primary local agency responsible for creating and maintaining arrest records for incidents within the city. Once booked, arrestees in Albuquerque are generally processed and housed at the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC). Short-term holds may occur in the Albuquerque Police Department's central booking facility.

Are Arrest Records Public in Albuquerque?

Under New Mexico's Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA), arrest records maintained by the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) are generally public records. They may be inspected or copied upon written request. Despite IPRA's presumption of openness, not all arrest records or information on arrest records are available to the public:

• Confidential law enforcement information
• Sealed or expunged arrest records
• Personal identifying information, such as home addresses, medical or financial information, and social security numbers
• Juvenile arrest records
• Crime victim or witness information

To inspect or request copies of arrest records, contact the APD Records Division at:

Albuquerque Police Department
Records Division
400 Roma NM
Albuquerque, NM 87102

Albuquerque Arrest Statistics

Recent data provided by the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting tool shows that APD recorded 16,003 arrests in 2023, with male arrests accounting for over 71% of arrests in the city. Female arrests account for the remaining 4,610 arrests for the year. For male and female arrests, the age group 30-34 records the highest number of arrests, at 2,182 and 871, respectively. Simple assault accounts for the most arrests reported in the city, at 4,411 arrests.

Find Albuquerque Arrest Records

The Bernalillo County Jail provides an online, up-to-date listing of all individuals currently held in its facility, as well as inmates who have been released from its detention centers. Alternatively, Albuquerque arrest records are accessible in person at the county jail:

Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC)
100 Deputy Dean Miera Drive SW
Albuquerque, NM 87151

Albuquerque arrest records are also accessible through the New Mexico Department of Corrections (NMCD) Offender Search. The database contains statewide records of inmates serving sentences in New Mexico state prisons and state jails.

The New Mexico Department of Public Safety (DPS) Criminal History Service serves as the official repository for statewide criminal history records, encompassing arrests, indictments, and dispositions. Record seekers may access arrest records using the Fingerprinting and Background Checks tool. Additionally, record seekers can find arrest information for individuals incarcerated in the federal prison system using the Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator.

Albuquerque Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Arrest records and criminal records serve different purposes. Arrest records are created the moment someone is taken into custody, detailing who was arrested, when and where the arrest occurred, which agency made the arrest, and the alleged offenses. Arrest records typically contain the arrestee's name and demographics, the arrest's date, time, location, charge statute, and booking details. Arrest records do not reflect case outcomes but simply indicate that an arrest occurred.

Criminal records are comprehensive histories of an individual's interaction with the criminal justice system, from initial charges through final disposition and any subsequent appeals. It contains all arrests, even those without conviction, court filings, case outcomes, sentencing information, and appeals.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Under New Mexico law, arrest records are kept indefinitely with law enforcement agencies and the Department of Public Safety unless the record holder takes legal steps to have the arrest expunged or sealed.

Persons wrongly arrested or persons whose cases were dismissed, charges dropped, or found not guilty are generally eligible to apply to have their records sealed or expunged. In addition, arrest records are eligible for sealing or expunction 2-10 years after completing your sentence and paying all fines following a conviction, depending on the offense.

Albuquerque Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant in Albuquerque is a court-signed document that authorizes any peace officer in Bernalillo County to take a specific person named on the document into custody. Arrest warrants are issued by a magistrate judge after a detective or prosecutor submits an affidavit outlining the facts, usually physical evidence or witness statements, that establish probable cause.

Arrest warrants are required if a felony did not occur in the presence of a peace officer, when the suspect cannot be immediately located, or when someone fails to appear at a scheduled hearing or violates probation terms. Once an arrest warrant is issued, it remains active until executed or formally recalled by the court.

Albuquerque arrest warrants typically contain the defendant's full name, date of birth, aliases, and physical description. They also contain information on the alleged offense, the issuing court, execution terms, and bail conditions.

Do Albuquerque Arrest Warrants Expire?

Arrest warrants issued in Albuquerque do not carry an automatic expiration date. They remain active until one of the following occurs:

• A peace officer arrests the named individual and returns the warrant to court
• The issuing judge formally withdraws or sets aside the warrant
• The court recalls the warrant once the underlying charges are dismissed or an expunction order is entered

Expunge Albuquerque Arrest Records

Per Chapter 29, Article 3A-1 to 29-3A-7 of the Criminal Record Expungement Act, arrest records in Albuquerque may be expunged under three scenarios:

• Identity theft or wrongful arrest
• Release without conviction
• After completing the court-mandated sentence and paying all fines

Individuals qualified to expunge their arrest records in Albuquerque may file a petition in Bernalillo County District Court, naming the arresting agencies, the district attorney, and the DPS. Also, provide these agencies with a copy of the petition. The court reviews the petition and may require a hearing if necessary. If the court grants the request, it compels all agencies to destroy or seal arrest records within 30 days. Once expunged, individuals may legally deny the existence of the arrest.