Santa Fe County Public Records / Santa Fe County Arrest Records

Santa Fe County Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Santa Fe County

Arrest records in Santa Fe County are generally considered public information under the New Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA), codified in § 14-2-1 through § 14-2-12 NMSA 1978. This statute establishes that every person has the right to inspect public records of the state, with certain limited exceptions.

The New Mexico Department of Public Safety maintains criminal history information pursuant to the Criminal Offender Employment Act § 28-2-1 NMSA, which governs the dissemination of arrest record information. It is important to note that there is a legal distinction between arrest records and conviction records:

Arrest records document that an individual was taken into custody by law enforcement but do not indicate guilt
Conviction records indicate that an individual was found guilty of a crime through legal proceedings

Law enforcement agencies in Santa Fe County, including the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office, maintain arrest records as part of their official duties. While these records are generally accessible to the public, certain information may be redacted to protect privacy rights, ongoing investigations, or in accordance with other statutory exemptions.

Members of the public should be aware that access to certain arrest information may be restricted if:

The arrest involved a juvenile
The case is under active investigation
The records contain confidential informant information
The release would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy
The records are sealed by court order

What's in Santa Fe County Arrest Records

Santa Fe County arrest records typically contain comprehensive information about individuals who have been taken into custody by law enforcement agencies within the county. These records are maintained by various agencies including the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office and the Santa Fe County Adult Detention Facility. The content of these records generally includes:

Arrestee Identifying Information:

Full legal name (including aliases or known nicknames)
Date of birth
Physical description (height, weight, eye color, hair color)
Gender
Race/ethnicity
Home address
Identifying marks (tattoos, scars, etc.)
Fingerprints
Photograph (mugshot)

Arrest Details:

Date and time of arrest
Location of arrest
Arresting agency
Arresting officer's name and badge number
Circumstances leading to arrest
Use of force information (if applicable)

Charge Information:

Criminal charges filed
Statute or ordinance violations
Charge classification (felony, misdemeanor, etc.)
Charge severity level
Description of alleged criminal activity

Warrant Information (if applicable):

Warrant number
Issuing court
Date issued
Type of warrant (arrest, bench, search)
Warrant status

Booking Information:

Booking date and time
Booking number
Processing officer information
Property inventory
Medical screening information

Bond/Bail Information:

Bond amount
Bond type (cash, surety, personal recognizance)
Bond status (posted, denied, pending)
Conditions of release

Court Information:

Court of jurisdiction
Case number
Scheduled court appearances
Judge assigned to case

Custody Status:

Current detention status
Facility location
Expected release date (if applicable)
Custody level classification

Additional Information May Include:

Prior arrest history
Probation/parole status
Immigration holds
Out-of-county or out-of-state warrants
Special custody requirements
Risk assessment scores

The specific information available in any individual arrest record may vary depending on the arresting agency, the nature of the offense, and applicable state laws regarding record disclosure.

How To Look Up Arrest Records in Santa Fe County in 2026

Members of the public seeking arrest records in Santa Fe County may utilize several official channels to obtain this information. The county maintains multiple access points for arrest record retrieval, each with specific procedures:

In-Person Requests:

Visit the appropriate agency that maintains the desired records:

Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office
35 Camino Justicia
Santa Fe, NM 87508
(505) 986-2455
Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office

Santa Fe County Adult Detention Facility
28 Camino Justicia
Santa Fe, NM 87508
(505) 428-3861
Santa Fe County Corrections Department

Complete a public records request form, which will be provided at the agency's public counter
Present valid government-issued photo identification
Specify the information being requested with as much detail as possible (full name, date of birth, approximate date of arrest)
Pay any applicable fees for record retrieval and copying (fees vary by agency)

Written Requests:

Submit a formal written request via mail or email to the appropriate agency
Include requestor's full name and contact information
Provide specific details about the records being sought
Reference the New Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act in the request
Allow up to 15 calendar days for a response, as required by § 14-2-8 NMSA

Online Requests:

Visit the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office website
Navigate to the Records Request section
Complete the electronic public records request form
Provide all required information about the specific arrest record
Submit the form and note the confirmation number for future reference

For arrest records related to the City of Santa Fe (rather than the county), requests should be directed to:

Santa Fe Police Department Records Division
2515 Camino Entrada
Santa Fe, NM 87507
(505) 955-5150
Santa Fe Police Records Request

Pursuant to New Mexico law, agencies must respond to records requests within three business days, though they may take up to 15 calendar days if the request is deemed excessively burdensome or broad.

How To Find Santa Fe County Arrest Records Online

Santa Fe County provides several digital resources for accessing arrest records online. These electronic systems offer convenient alternatives to in-person requests:

Santa Fe County Inmate Lookup System The county maintains an online inmate lookup portal that provides information about individuals currently in custody or recently released. This database includes:
- Inmate name and booking number
- Charges
- Bond information
- Court dates
- Custody status
Users can search by name or booking number. The system is updated regularly but may not include historical arrest data beyond recent bookings.
Sheriff's Hotsheets The Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office publishes daily hotsheets containing information about recent arrests, incidents, and law enforcement activities. These reports include:
- Case numbers
- Brief descriptions of incidents
- Locations
- Charges filed
Hotsheets provide a snapshot of recent law enforcement activity but do not constitute comprehensive arrest records.
New Mexico Courts Case Lookup The New Mexico Judiciary maintains a case lookup system that allows users to search for court cases associated with arrests. This system provides:
- Case numbers
- Charges filed
- Court dates
- Case status
- Judgment information
While not specifically an arrest record database, this system provides information about the court proceedings resulting from arrests.
New Mexico Department of Corrections Offender Search For individuals who have been convicted and sentenced to state custody, the New Mexico Corrections Department Offender Search provides information about:
- Current custody status
- Facility location
- Conviction information
- Projected release dates
This database only includes individuals who have been sentenced to state custody following conviction.

When utilizing these online resources, users should be aware that:

Information may not be comprehensive or complete
Recent arrests may not appear immediately
Some details may be redacted for privacy or security reasons
The most authoritative records remain those obtained directly from the arresting agency

How To Search Santa Fe County Arrest Records for Free?

Santa Fe County residents and other interested parties can access arrest records without incurring fees through several public resources:

County-Level Free Resources:

Public Access Terminals The Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office and the Santa Fe County Clerk's Office maintain public access computer terminals where visitors can search basic arrest record information at no cost. These terminals are available during regular business hours:

Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office
35 Camino Justicia
Santa Fe, NM 87508
Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
(505) 986-2455

Santa Fe County Clerk's Office
102 Grant Avenue
Santa Fe, NM 87501
Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
(505) 986-6280
Online Inmate Lookup The Santa Fe County Adult Detention Facility provides a free online inmate lookup service that allows users to search for currently incarcerated individuals or those recently released. This database includes booking information, charges, and custody status.
Sheriff's Hotsheets The Sheriff's Office publishes daily activity reports on their website that include recent arrests and incidents. These reports are freely accessible and updated regularly.

State-Level Free Resources:

New Mexico Courts Public Access The New Mexico Judiciary offers free public access to court records through their online portal. While this system focuses on court cases rather than arrests specifically, it provides information about criminal proceedings resulting from arrests.
New Mexico Department of Public Safety Records The Department of Public Safety maintains certain criminal history information that may be accessed without charge for educational or research purposes.

Important Considerations:

Free resources typically provide limited information compared to official record requests
Some systems may only display recent records or current incarcerations
Personal identifying information is often redacted from freely accessible records
For comprehensive arrest records, an official request may still be necessary
While initial searches may be free, obtaining copies of complete records may incur fees

Pursuant to the New Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act § 14-2-9, agencies may charge reasonable fees for copying records but cannot charge for inspection of records or for the time spent searching for records.

How To Delete Arrest Records in Santa Fe County

The process of removing arrest records from public access in Santa Fe County involves either expungement (legal erasure) or sealing (restricting public access). These processes are governed by New Mexico state law, specifically the Criminal Record Expungement Act § 29-3A-1 through § 29-3A-9 NMSA.

Expungement vs. Sealing:

Expungement refers to the complete destruction or deletion of arrest records from public and sometimes official databases
Sealing restricts public access to records while maintaining them for limited official use by law enforcement and courts

Eligibility for Expungement in Santa Fe County:

Under New Mexico law, individuals may petition for expungement in the following circumstances:

Arrests without charges: If an arrest did not result in formal charges being filed within one year
Dismissals: Cases that were dismissed with prejudice or resulted in acquittal
Completed deferred sentences: After successful completion of a deferred sentence and dismissal of charges
Certain convictions: After waiting periods ranging from 2-10 years, depending on the offense severity
Identity theft victims: Persons whose identity was used by another person arrested or charged with a crime

Expungement Process:

Petition Preparation:
- Obtain certified copies of arrest records from the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office
- Obtain certified copies of court records from the First Judicial District Court
- Complete the Petition for Expungement form (available from the court clerk)
- Prepare a proposed Order of Expungement
Filing:
- File the petition with the First Judicial District Court
- Pay the required filing fee (approximately $132, though fee waivers may be available)
- Serve copies of the petition on all relevant agencies, including:
  - District Attorney's Office
  - Law enforcement agency that made the arrest
  - Department of Public Safety
  - FBI (if applicable)
Hearing:
- The court will schedule a hearing on the petition
- Petitioner must appear and present evidence supporting the expungement request
- Agencies may appear to contest the expungement
Implementation:
- If granted, the court will issue an Order of Expungement
- Petitioner must serve the order on all agencies possessing records
- Agencies have 30 days to comply with the order

Important Limitations:

Certain serious offenses, including violent felonies and sex offenses, may not be eligible for expungement
Expunged records may still be accessible to law enforcement agencies for limited purposes
Federal agencies may maintain records even after state expungement
Private data brokers may have copied information before expungement

For assistance with the expungement process, individuals may contact:

New Mexico Legal Aid
901 W. Alameda, Suite 20-B
Santa Fe, NM 87501
(505) 982-9886
New Mexico Legal Aid

What Happens After Arrest in Santa Fe County?

Following an arrest in Santa Fe County, individuals enter a structured criminal justice process governed by New Mexico state law. This process typically follows these sequential steps:

1. Booking and Initial Detention

After physical arrest, individuals are transported to the Santa Fe County Adult Detention Facility where they undergo:

Photographing and fingerprinting
Personal property inventory
Medical screening
Background check
Initial custody classification

2. First Appearance/Arraignment

Within 24-48 hours of arrest, defendants appear before a judge for:

Formal reading of charges
Advisement of constitutional rights
Determination of counsel (appointment of public defender if eligible)
Initial bail/bond determination
Entry of preliminary plea

For misdemeanors, this may occur at the Santa Fe Magistrate Court, while felonies are handled by the First Judicial District Court.

3. Pretrial Release Decision

Pursuant to New Mexico Rules of Criminal Procedure 5-401, the court determines whether the defendant will be:

Released on personal recognizance
Released with non-monetary conditions
Released on bail bond
Detained without bail (for dangerous offenders or flight risks)

New Mexico has reformed its bail system to focus less on financial ability and more on public safety and flight risk.

4. Preliminary Hearing or Grand Jury (Felonies Only)

For felony cases, the prosecution must establish probable cause through either:

Preliminary hearing before a judge, or
Grand jury indictment

This step must typically occur within 10 days for detained defendants or 60 days for released defendants.

5. Arraignment (Post-Indictment for Felonies)

Following indictment or information filing, defendants are formally arraigned where they:

Hear formal charges
Enter an official plea
Receive trial scheduling information

6. Pretrial Proceedings

Before trial, several legal proceedings may occur:

Discovery exchange between prosecution and defense
Pretrial motions (to suppress evidence, dismiss charges, etc.)
Plea negotiations
Status conferences
Pretrial detention hearings

7. Trial or Plea Resolution

Cases are resolved through either:

Plea agreement (approximately 90% of cases)
Bench trial (judge only)
Jury trial (guaranteed for cases with potential imprisonment)

8. Sentencing

If convicted, sentencing follows, which may include:

Incarceration in county jail or state prison
Probation
Fines and restitution
Community service
Treatment programs
Combination of sanctions

9. Post-Conviction

After conviction, defendants retain certain rights:

Appeal within 30 days to a higher court
Post-conviction relief petitions
Habeas corpus proceedings
Expungement or record sealing (in eligible cases)

Throughout this process, case information becomes part of the public record accessible through the New Mexico Courts case lookup system, unless specifically sealed by court order.

How Long Are Arrest Records Kept in Santa Fe County?

Arrest records in Santa Fe County are maintained according to the New Mexico Administrative Code § 1.21.2.615 which establishes the Records Retention and Disposition Schedules (RRDS) for law enforcement agencies. These schedules mandate specific retention periods for various types of records.

Standard Retention Periods:

Arrest Reports and Booking Information: Maintained permanently by the arresting agency
Fingerprint Cards: Retained permanently by the New Mexico Department of Public Safety
Arrest Photographs (Mugshots): Retained for a minimum of 5 years after the arrest date
Incident Reports: Maintained for 5 years after case closure for misdemeanors; 20 years for felonies
Investigation Files: Retained for 5 years after case closure for misdemeanors; 20 years for felonies; permanently for homicides and sexual offenses
Juvenile Arrest Records: Generally sealed when the individual reaches 18 years of age, with exceptions for serious offenses

Agency-Specific Retention Requirements:

Different agencies within Santa Fe County maintain arrest records according to their specific functions:

Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office
- Maintains arrest records according to state retention schedules
- Preserves records of significant cases permanently
- Retains digital booking information indefinitely
Santa Fe County Adult Detention Facility
- Maintains booking and custody records for a minimum of 5 years after release
- Preserves inmate medical records for 10 years after release
- Retains classification and disciplinary records for 3 years after release
New Mexico Department of Public Safety
- Maintains the central repository for all criminal history information
- Preserves fingerprint records permanently
- Retains arrest information indefinitely unless expunged by court order
First Judicial District Court
- Maintains court records related to arrests permanently
- Preserves case files according to case type and disposition
- Retains digital case management records indefinitely

Important Considerations:

Records retention preserves evidence for potential future investigations
Extended retention ensures accountability of law enforcement agencies
Digital records may be maintained longer than physical records
Records may be transferred to archival storage after active retention periods
Even after retention periods expire, information may persist in secondary databases

The New Mexico Commission of Public Records oversees the development and implementation of records retention schedules for all state and local government agencies, including law enforcement entities in Santa Fe County.

How to Find Mugshots in Santa Fe County

What Mugshots Are

Mugshots, or booking photographs, are official photographs taken during the booking process following an arrest. In Santa Fe County, these photographs are created for identification purposes and become part of the official arrest record. Typically, mugshots include front-facing and profile (side) views of the arrested individual.

Where Mugshots Are Maintained

In Santa Fe County, booking photographs are primarily maintained by:

Santa Fe County Adult Detention Facility
28 Camino Justicia
Santa Fe, NM 87508
(505) 428-3861
Santa Fe County Corrections Department

Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office
35 Camino Justicia
Santa Fe, NM 87508
(505) 986-2455
Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office

For arrests made within city limits, mugshots may also be maintained by:

Santa Fe Police Department
2515 Camino Entrada
Santa Fe, NM 87507
(505) 955-5150
Santa Fe Police Department

Finding Mugshots

To obtain mugshots in Santa Fe County, individuals may:

Submit a formal public records request to the arresting agency or detention facility, citing the New Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act
Provide specific identifying information about the subject, including full name, date of birth, and approximate date of arrest
Pay applicable fees for reproduction of the photographs (typically $1-5 per page)
Allow processing time of up to 15 calendar days as permitted under state law

Can Mugshots Be Found Online?

Unlike some jurisdictions, Santa Fe County does not maintain a public-facing online database specifically for mugshots. However, limited booking information may be available through:

The Santa Fe County inmate lookup system, which provides basic booking information but typically does not include photographs
The Sheriff's Office hotsheets, which occasionally include booking information but rarely contain photographs

Obtaining Mugshots Officially

For the most reliable access to mugshots, individuals should:

Visit or contact the records division of the arresting agency
Complete an Inspection of Public Records Act request form
Provide specific details about the arrest in question
Present valid identification
Pay any applicable reproduction fees

Restrictions on Mugshot Access

Access to mugshots in Santa Fe County may be restricted under certain circumstances:

Photographs of juvenile arrestees (under 18) are generally not public records
Mugshots related to ongoing investigations may be temporarily withheld
Images that would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy may be redacted
Photographs of individuals whose records have been expunged or sealed are not accessible
Certain sensitive cases (e.g., sexual assault victims, confidential informants) may have restricted access

The New Mexico Department of Public Safety maintains the state's central repository of criminal history information, including some booking photographs, but access is typically limited to authorized agencies and individuals with specific permissions.