Bernalillo County Arrest Records

Carrying out arrests is a core part of law enforcement operations in Bernalillo County. Arrests happen when an individual is suspected of or found violating the law. If an individual is arrested outside the jurisdiction where the crime was committed, they are returned to that jurisdiction for detention trial. This is handled by the Extraditions Unit of the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office (BSCO).

After apprehending a suspect, the arresting law enforcement agency creates an arrest record to document the arrest details. Once the arrestee is booked, they are transferred to the county jail to await trial. Adult offenders are detained in the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center, and juvenile offenders are held in the Youth Services Center.

The prosecution process begins after the detainment of a suspect. The prosection involves filing formal charges against the suspect in court. An arrest record plays a vital role in supporting the claims made against the defendant. Following the trial, a copy of the arrest record is included in Bernalillo County court records maintained by the Clerk of Court.

Are Arrest Records Public in Bernalillo County?

Yes. Members of the public are permitted to inspect Bernalillo County arrest records under the New Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA) and the Arrest Record Information Act (ARIA). Not all information that may be contained in an arrest record is available to the public for inspection. According to the ARIA, the following arrest record information is confidential:

• Arrest records that reveal confidential sources, methods, and information
• Identifying information of individuals who were accused but not charged with a crime
• Arrest records maintained by the state or any of its political subdivisions regarding individuals charged with committing a crime
• Arrest records of juveniles
• Records of any investigative reports on the accused are technically not arrest record information and are not protected by the ARIA.

It is also necessary to note that arrest records in criminal justice agencies' custody are not confidential. Only arrest records maintained by the state or a political subdivision are confidential.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Public arrest records contain information regarding an arrest that is generally not restricted or considered private under state law. The following information is publicly accessible in Bernalillo County:

• Personal information of the arrestee, such as name, date of birth, gender, and address
• The arresting agency
• Date and time of the arrest
• Location of the arrest
• The reason for arrest (which includes the offense the arrestee was accused of committing)
• Booking information (person ID, booking number, fingerprints, mugshots, and bail conditions if present)

Bernalillo County Crime Rate

Law enforcement agencies in Bernalillo County are required to report incidents of crime annually through the Uniform Crime Reporting Program (UCR) managed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The data is collected by the New Mexico Department of Safety (DPS) and the FBI. There are three primary crime reporting agencies in Bernalillo County. They are the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office, the Albuquerque Police Department (APD), and the University of New Mexico Police Department (UNMPD).

The FBI's Crime Data Explorer page has data on the agencies' reports. For 2022, the total number of index crimes reported by these agencies in Bernalillo County was 38,231. The APD reported 8,281 crimes, the BSCO reported 3,020 crimes, and the UNMPD reported 591 crimes.

The total number of violent crimes, which included homicide, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault, was 8,561. The total number of property crimes, which included arson, burglary, larceny theft, and motor vehicle theft, was 29,670. Aggravated assault and larceny-theft were the leading violent and property crimes, respectively.

Bernalillo County Arrest Statistics

Neither the DPS nor the FBI provide arrest statistics for Bernalillo County. However, various law enforcement agencies in the county maintain arrest statistics for arrests they made. Researchers may visit the department to request a comprehensive report on arrests made by the department.

Find Bernalillo County Arrest Records

Several law enforcement agencies are responsible for making arrests in Bernalillo County. An arresting agency maintains the arrest records of individuals they arrest. Individuals may visit an arresting agency to request the record in accordance with the Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA). The arresting agency is required to release the arrest record at most 15 days after receiving the request. If the arrest record is confidential, the status of the record should be communicated to the requester no longer than three days after the request.

The Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) lists the county's most recent arrests (up to the previous seven days) on its Arrest List page. A researcher can choose any date from the previous seven days to access information about persons arrested on that day. The MDC's arrest list discloses the name, birth year, person ID, booking number, and booking time of the arrestee. It also reveals the law enforcement agency responsible for the arrest. This helps a researcher know the appropriate agency from which to request a comprehensive arrest record if needed.

Inquirers can access the Bernalillo County inmate database through the MDC's Custody List search portal. The database contains information on individuals incarcerated in the Detention Center. Users can search for an inmate using an inmate ID, first name, last name, or arrest date. The custody list divulges more information than the arrest list. It reveals the inmate's personal information, mugshot, admission details, history of arrests, warrants, and bail details.

The arrest record of an individual tried in court for a crime is typically included in the individual's court record. Anyone can access the court record to examine arrest record information contained within, provided the court record is not confidential. To obtain a court record, a researcher may contact the Clerk of Court where the case was filed to request the record. Online access to court records in New Mexico is made available by the New Mexico Courts Case Lookup page. A name search, case number search, or DWI search can be conducted on the page.

The New Mexico Corrections Department (NMCD) maintains state inmate information. The NMCD website's Offender Search feature can be used to look up state-incarcerated persons. The offender search criteria include the inmate's last name, first name, offender number, offender status (active, inactive, and absconder), and age range. A searcher can conduct an absconder-only search without needing to input another search criteria.

Arrest record information of federal inmates can be accessed using the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) inmate locator. Federal inmates can be found on the portal using the inmate's name or an identification number (FBI, INS, DCDC, BOP).

Free Arrest Record Search in Bernalillo County

Individuals can search for an arrest record for free on the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) arrest list page if the arrest was recent. If the person is currently detained in the county, arrest record information can also be searched using the MDC's custody list.

Third-party sources are also an option to obtain Burling County arrest records for free. Third-party vendors with access to arrest record information may allow individuals to search their records without a cost. The amount of arrest record information that is disclosed to a researcher for free usually differs per vendor. Most vendors would require a fee to disclose a more detailed arrest record.

Get Bernalillo County Criminal Records

A criminal record or a criminal history record is a comprehensive account of a person's history of criminal activity. An individual's criminal record comprises information reported by law enforcement agencies and criminal justice agencies. It usually contains arrest information, charges, convictions, and other relevant interactions with the legal system. The New Mexico Department of Safety (DPS) maintains Bernalillo County criminal records. The DPS Law Enforcement Records Bureau (LERB) is responsible for maintaining the accuracy of criminal history records in New Mexico. The DPS Central Repository for Criminal History preserves the criminal records of persons arrested in the state for felony, misdemeanor, and driving while intoxicated (DWI) crimes.

The Sheriff's Office and other local law enforcement agencies in Bernalillo County do not conduct criminal history background checks for the public. Anyone who wishes to conduct a criminal history check must do so through the DPS. Per the New Mexico Arrest Information Act, individuals can only request a criminal history check on themselves. They can do this in person, through their counsel, or their authorized agent.

To conduct a criminal history check, the requester's fingerprints must be submitted to the DPS. The DPS performs fingerprinting services manually on weekdays at their central office. The central office is located at:

4491 Cerrillos Road
Santa Fe, NM 87507
Phone: (505) 827-9181

The fingerprinting fee is $9 for the first two cards and $2.5 for each subsequent card. The New Mexico Applicant Fingerprint Processing (NMAPS) also allows residents to submit their fingerprints electronically through the state-approved private vendor.

The Authorization for Release of Information form (also available in Spanish) must be completed by the requester and forwarded to the DPS by mail for processing. The form must be notarized and contain the applicant's original signature. A criminal history check costs $15 per request. Payment can be made by money order or cashier's check made payable to the Department of Public Safety. If the applicant requires a criminal record for immigration purposes, a Police Certificate of Good Standing must be obtained alongside the criminal record from the DPS. A Police Certificate of Good Standing and a criminal history check cost $33. It generally takes the DPS between 7 to 15 business days from the day of receiving the request to process the check.

Individuals can also request a criminal history check (or rap sheet) from the FBI. A request can be made online, by mail, or through an FBI-approved channeler. An FBI criminal history check costs $18.

Bernalillo County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Law enforcement agencies create arrest records to document information relating to a person's arrest. The record contains information on an arrest event but does not detail any subsequent legal interaction resulting from the arrest.

A criminal record, however, contains information from law enforcement and criminal justice agencies. It details an individual's arrest record and subsequent interactions with the criminal justice system that result from the arrests.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Bernalillo County law enforcement agencies maintain the arrest records of individuals detained in the county forever. An individual's arrest record is not only retained indefinitely but is also accessible to the general public. However, New Mexico law makes provisions for the expungement of arrest records. People with an arrest history may take advantage of the provisions if they meet the requirements.

Expunge Bernalillo County Arrest Records

An arrest record expungement in Bernalillo County is the withdrawal of the arrest record from the public space. The New Mexico Criminal Expungement Act regulates expungement procedures in Bernalillo County. The Criminal Expungement Act lists the criteria for expungement under the following scenarios.

• Identity theft: An individual who was a victim of identity theft and was wrongly identified in an arrest record may petition the Bernalillo District Court to have the record expunged. If the court hearing ends in favor of the petitioner, a directive is issued by the court to have the arrest records expunged within 30 days of the hearing. The order prevents law enforcement agencies and courts from disclosing the arrest record to the public.
• Arrest without conviction: A person who was arrested but not convicted may petition the district where the charges were filed one year after the case's final disposition to have the arrest record expunged. The petitioner is to provide a copy of the petition by first-class United States mail to the district attorney and the Department of Public Safety. The applicant may request the expungement of multiple arrest records in one petition. If there are no objections to the petition within 30 days, the court may rule for the expungement of the arrest from all law enforcement and court records. The order is given if no other pending charge is found against the petitioner.
• Arrest resulting in conviction: Individuals convicted of a municipal ordinance violation, misdemeanor, or felony crime in New Mexico may file for expunction in the district court after the completion of their sentence. The petitioner must provide notice of the petition to the district attorney, the DPS, and the arresting agency. The parties served with the notice have 30 days to raise any objections to the petition.
• The petition will be considered if there is no pending charge against the petitioner and any victim restitution has been fulfilled. After the court hearing on the petition, the court may order the arrest record expunged if the petitioner has not been convicted of a crime for a specified timeframe. The timeframe is two years for municipal violations, four years for aggravated battery or a fourth-degree felony, six years for a third-degree felony, eight years for a second-degree felony, and ten years for a first-degree felony. The court also considers other factors that may affect their decision to oblige the petition. These factors include the gravity of the crime, the petitioner's age, criminal history, employment history, and any objections to the petition raised by the district attorney. If the petition is successful, an order is given to expunge the arrest record. Arrest records relating to child abuse, a sex offense, and an offense that caused great bodily harm or death of another person cannot be expunged.

If a court expunges an arrest record, the arrest is legally considered to never have occurred. However, an expungement does not destroy the record. The court may order the disclosure of the record if the party of the record gets involved in a subsequent crime.

Bernalillo County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant is a document that contains a written order to arrest and detain a suspect. New Mexico law mandates every law enforcement officer in the state to investigate any suspicious activity that comes to their notice. If an investigation concludes that an individual has violated the law, a complaint may be filed with the court. The sitting judge then examines the claims made by law enforcement and issues an arrest warrant if they are substantial. An arrest warrant is issued following a sworn statement by the district attorney, a police officer, or an alleged victim accusing the suspect of committing a crime.

An officer of any law enforcement agency can execute an arrest warrant. Arrest warrants typically contain the following information:

• The suspect's name and physical description, if necessary
• The charges filed against the suspect
• A written order for arrest
• The name and signature of the issuing judge
• Issuance date of the arrest warrant
• Warrant number

Bernalillo County Arrest Warrant Search

A law enforcement department required to carry out an arrest is served with the relevant arrest warrant. The Albuquerque Police Department and the Sheriff's Office are responsible for a large part of arrests that occur in Barnaillo County. Inquisitive parties may contact any of the departments to inquire about an arrest warrant.

Individuals can search for Bernalillo County arrest warrants online using the Sheriff's website warrant search tool. The Sheriff's Office Warrants Unit maintains the warrant database. Warrants can be searched by name, warrant type, or warrant year. Upon completion of a search, the full name, warrant number, issue date, case type, charge description, and date of birth of matching suspects are disclosed.

The Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) Custody List inmate database contains information on any warrants issued in an inmate's name. The database can be used to obtain arrest warrant information for inmates.

Inquirers may also inspect the court record of a person tried in court to find arrest warrant information on the case. A court record can be acquired at the courthouse where the case was heard or online through the New Mexico Case Lookup feature.

Do Bernalillo County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. Arrest warrants issued in Bernalillo County do not expire. Law enforcement officers are authorized to execute an arrest warrant no matter how long it has been in existence. A warrant only becomes no longer active once it has been executed. Once executed, a new warrant may be acquired if the individual commits another crime.

Arrest warrants also become ineffective when recalled or quashed by the court. A recall or quashing may occur if the issues that prompted the need for the arrest no longer exist or the existing warrant is faulty.