Bernalillo County Warrant Search

A Bernalillo County warrant allows law enforcement agencies to carry out specific actions, such as arrests, searches, or confiscations of property. To avoid being at the receiving end of such enforcement actions, residents are encouraged to conduct periodic warrant searches to determine if they have an active warrant. If a warrant is discovered, the affected party can take the necessary steps to resolve the underlying issue(s) and prevent adverse outcomes like an arrest.

For persons arrested on a warrant in Bernalillo County, interested individuals can find details about their arrests by looking through the Bernalillo County arrest records. Such records provide vital details about arrest incidents, including the charges and any specific warrant information.

Are Warrants Public Records?

Yes. New Mexico's Inspection of Public Records Act (or "IPRA") regulates access to warrants in Bernalillo County. Under this Act, the public has the statutory right to examine warrants. However, not all warrants are available for public review, as certain exceptions apply. For instance, a warrant may be withheld if it is part of an ongoing investigation, features a juvenile subject, or has been sealed by the court.

Types of Warrants in Bernalillo County

The Bernalillo County judiciary issues a variety of warrants, including arrest warrants, search warrants, administrative inspection warrants, bench warrants, and child support bench warrants. Execution warrants were once issued but were repealed in 2009 when the death penalty was abolished in New Mexico. Each type of warrant serves a distinct purpose within the legal system. Nevertheless, the most frequently issued warrants in Bernalillo County are bench, arrest, and search warrants.

Do I Have a Warrant in Bernalillo County?

Individuals in Bernalillo County can generally determine if a warrant exists in their name by:

• Checking with local law enforcement agencies
• Contacting the court
• Searching official and external online databases
• Hiring a bail bonds agent or attorney

Active Warrant Search in Bernalillo

Since warrants are public information, individuals can find out if they have an active warrant by contacting the appropriate record custodians. The primary custodians of warrants in Bernalillo County are courts and law enforcement agencies. People can visit these agencies to request a search of their warrant records.

Arrest Warrant Search

When warrants of arrest are issued in Bernalillo County, they are sent to the local law enforcement agencies for execution. Generally, individuals can access these warrants through law enforcement agencies; however, an agency may not be in custody of a warrant if it was not directed to them.

The Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office is the primary law enforcement agency in the county and maintains a repository of all the warrants that have been issued in the county. Thus, individuals seeking an arrest warrant can start at the Sheriff's Office.

Typically, inquirers will need to provide a name to the Sheriff's Office staff for a warrant search. If it is a self-check and an arrest warrant is found, the inquirer may be detained. To avoid this, one may access the Sheriff's Office Warrant Search tool. The tool allows for warrant searches by name or warrant type. A completed search reveals the warrant subject's name and date of birth, warrant number, issuance date, case type, and charge description.

Bench Warrant Lookup

When a person does not follow a court order or does not show up in court when required, the court can issue a bench warrant for the individual's arrest. People who believe they might have a bench warrant can verify the warrant by contacting the presiding court (where the related court case was received or is open).

Since bench warrants are associated with ongoing court cases, one can also ask their attorney to perform a search on their behalf. Additionally, bench warrants may be located using a local Sheriff's Office Warrant Search system or the New Mexico Courts Online Case Lookup tool.

Free Warrant Search

Local police departments and courts typically do not charge warrant inquiries fees, allowing individuals to check their warrant statuses at no cost. However, while inquiring is free, obtaining a physical copy of the warrant may require payment of a fee.

Can You Check Warrants Online?

Yes. It is possible to look up Bernalillo County warrants online through third-party websites that aggregate public records. These platforms allow users to search for warrants by name or case number. The search process is generally free, but the details of the warrant may not be disclosed for free. The researcher may need to pay a fee to access a complete record.

Researchers may find searching warrants on aggregator sites more convenient compared to conventional sources. However, aggregator sites are not without their drawbacks. Information obtained on their sites may not accurately reflect the state of warrants, particularly if a database is not updated frequently. Consequently, it is recommended that local authorities, such as the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office or courts, verify warrant information.

Do Warrants Expire?

In Bernalillo County, search warrants are the only warrants that expire if not executed within a specified period. The period for executing a search warrant is 10 days. It will become invalid if the warrant is not executed within this time.

In contrast, other types of warrants, like arrest and bench warrants, do not expire, regardless of how much time passes. Although these warrants do not expire, they can be quashed by a court under exceptional circumstances—like when probable cause no longer exists, or a warrant is resolved by its subject.

How to Clear a Warrant Without Going to Jail

People with outstanding warrants in Bernalillo County may be able to clear their warrants without going to jail, depending on the specifics of their case. An individual may consult an attorney to verify the existence of a warrant and obtain legal advice on whether the warrant can be resolved without jail time. Some warrants, particularly bench warrants, can often be cleared by paying assessed fines.

Additionally, courts occasionally offer Safe Surrender events that assist individuals in clearing outstanding warrants. These initiatives provide a secure environment to address pending legal issues without risking an arrest or facing other consequences.

One such program was the statewide Safe Surrender event, which successfully resolved 2,022 cases from June 2023 to April 2024. The Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court also offered two Self Surrender programs in 2023 (see the court's Metro Beat page for more details).