New Mexico Warrant Search

Are Warrants Public Record in New Mexico

Pursuant to the New Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA), NMSA 1978, § 14-2-1 through § 14-2-12, warrants are considered public record in New Mexico. This status reflects the state's commitment to governmental transparency and the public's right to access judicial documents. The New Mexico Supreme Court has consistently upheld that court records, including warrants, are presumptively open to public inspection unless specifically sealed by court order.

The public nature of warrant records serves multiple governmental and societal functions. Access to these records enables citizens to be informed about law enforcement activities within their communities. Additionally, public access to warrant information promotes accountability within the judicial system and law enforcement agencies by allowing for community oversight of legal processes.

Under NMSA 1978, § 14-2-5, every person has the right to inspect public records of the state. However, certain exceptions may apply to warrant information in specific circumstances, such as when disclosure might compromise an ongoing investigation or when a judge has ordered the warrant sealed. In such cases, access may be temporarily restricted in accordance with NMSA 1978, § 14-2-1(A)(4).

What Is Contained in Warrant Records in New Mexico

Warrant records maintained by New Mexico courts and law enforcement agencies typically contain several standard components as prescribed by the New Mexico Rules of Criminal Procedure, Rule 5-208 NMRA for district courts and Rule 6-208 NMRA for magistrate courts:

Subject identification information: Full legal name of the individual, date of birth, last known address, and other identifying information
Case number: The unique identifier assigned to the case by the issuing court
Date of issuance: The specific date on which the judicial authority signed and issued the warrant
Issuing authority: The name of the judge or magistrate who authorized the warrant
Jurisdiction: The court or legal authority under which the warrant was issued
Statutory violations: Citations to specific New Mexico statutes allegedly violated
Factual basis: A brief description of the alleged offense or reason for the warrant
Bond information: If applicable, the amount of bond required for release
Status information: Whether the warrant is active, executed, recalled, or quashed

For search warrants specifically, additional information is included pursuant to NMSA 1978, § 31-1-7, such as the description of property or premises to be searched and items to be seized.

How to Check For Warrants in New Mexico For Free

Members of the public seeking to verify warrant status in New Mexico may utilize several no-cost resources provided by state and local government agencies:

New Mexico Courts Public Access portal: The New Mexico Judiciary maintains an online case lookup system at https://publicaccess.nmcourts.gov/ where individuals can search for warrant information by name.
County Sheriff's Offices: Many county sheriff departments maintain public terminals or provide assistance for warrant searches:

Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office
400 Roma Ave NW
Albuquerque, NM 87102
(505) 468-7100
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Online warrant lookup: https://bcapp.bernco.gov/BCSO_WarrantInterWITS/
Local Court Clerk Offices: Court clerks maintain warrant records and can provide information upon request:

First Judicial District Court
225 Montezuma Avenue
Santa Fe, NM 87501
(505) 455-8250
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
New Mexico Department of Public Safety: The Law Enforcement Records Bureau can provide information on certain types of warrants.

Law Enforcement Records Bureau
6301 Indian School Rd NE
Albuquerque, NM 87110
(505) 827-9181
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Individuals should be prepared to provide their full legal name and date of birth when requesting warrant information. Pursuant to NMSA 1978, § 14-2-8, agencies must respond to requests for public records in a timely manner, generally within three business days.

How to Know If You Have a Warrant in New Mexico in 2025

As of 2025, the State of New Mexico has implemented several methods for individuals to verify their warrant status:

New Mexico Courts Case Lookup System: The New Mexico Judiciary has enhanced its online portal at https://publicaccess.nmcourts.gov/ to provide comprehensive warrant information. Users can search by name to determine if active warrants exist.
Unified Warrant Information System: The New Mexico Department of Public Safety has established a centralized database accessible through authorized terminals at government offices throughout the state.
In-person verification at courthouses: Individuals may visit the clerk's office at any district or magistrate court to inquire about warrant status:

Second Judicial District Court
400 Lomas Blvd NW
Albuquerque, NM 87102
(505) 841-8400
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Telephone inquiries to law enforcement agencies: Many agencies now provide warrant verification services by telephone, including:

New Mexico State Police
4491 Cerrillos Road
Santa Fe, NM 87507
(505) 827-9300
Hours: 24 hours daily

Pursuant to NMSA 1978, § 29-3-8, law enforcement agencies are authorized to provide criminal history information, including warrant status, to the subject of the record upon proper identification.

How to Check For Outstanding Warrants in New Mexico

Individuals seeking to verify outstanding warrant status in New Mexico may utilize several official channels:

County-level searches: Each county maintains records of warrants issued within its jurisdiction. The Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court provides a comprehensive warrant search service at its main location:

Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court
401 Lomas Blvd NW
Albuquerque, NM 87102
(505) 841-8151
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Statewide judicial portal: The New Mexico Courts Public Records system allows for searches across multiple jurisdictions simultaneously.
Law enforcement agencies: The New Mexico State Police and local police departments can provide warrant information:

Santa Fe Police Department
2515 Camino Entrada
Santa Fe, NM 87507
(505) 428-3710
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
New Mexico Corrections Department: For warrants related to probation or parole violations, the Offender Search system provides relevant information.

When conducting warrant searches, individuals should be aware that pursuant to NMSA 1978, § 31-1-4, an arrest warrant remains valid until it is executed or withdrawn by the issuing court.

How to Find Federal Warrant Search

Federal warrants in New Mexico are issued by United States District Courts and are distinct from state warrants. To search for federal warrants, individuals must utilize federal resources:

United States District Court for the District of New Mexico: The federal courthouse maintains public access terminals for searching federal court records, including warrants:

United States District Court
333 Lomas Blvd NW
Albuquerque, NM 87102
(505) 348-2000
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Federal law enforcement agencies: Agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and United States Marshals Service maintain information on federal warrants:

FBI Albuquerque Field Office
4200 Luecking Park Ave NE
Albuquerque, NM 87107
(505) 889-1300
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:15 AM - 5:00 PM
PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records): This federal court database system provides access to federal warrant information for registered users at https://pacer.uscourts.gov/

Pursuant to Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 4(c)(3), federal arrest warrants must be executed by a marshal or other authorized officer. Information about federal warrants may be more restricted than state warrants due to national security concerns and ongoing investigations.