Albuquerque NM Arrest Records Search | Police & Court
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Albuquerque · Bernalillo County · Police, jail and criminal court records
Trace an Albuquerque Arrest From Booking to the Court Result
An Albuquerque arrest can create an APD report, MDC booking, warrant entry, Metropolitan Court case and later a felony District Court case. Each record answers a different question.
This guide shows exactly where to search, what each field means, how to obtain police and court copies, how release works and what to do about visitation, legal help, statewide records and expungement.
ALBUQUERQUE RECORD ROUTER
VERIFYING
MDC CUSTODY
LIVE
JAIL
APD
COURT
BERNALILLO COURT
OUTCOME FOUND
BOOKING + CASE VERIFIED
Arrest is not conviction. An MDC charge records an allegation, warrant or custody reason. Prosecutors can decline, change or add charges, and the court can dismiss a case or find the defendant not guilty.
Current custody
Use Bernalillo County MDC Custody List.
Police report
Request it from APD Records when APD investigated.
Misdemeanor case
Usually handled through Metropolitan Court.
Felony case
Follow it into Second Judicial District Court.
State history
New Mexico DPS check currently costs $15.
Which Albuquerque record should you search?
MDC CUSTODY
Is the person in jail?
Person ID, booking number, admission, housing, arrests, charges, warrants, active holds and release entries.
Start here after an arrest resulting in MDC booking.
APD RECORDS
What did officers report?
Police report, incident narrative and other releasable written APD records.
Request from APD only when APD created the record.
METRO COURT
Misdemeanor or first appearance?
Misdemeanor, DWI, domestic violence, traffic and felony first-appearance records.
Metro Court records extend back to 1984.
DISTRICT COURT
Was a felony filed?
Felony cases, preventive-detention matters, indictments, motions, judgments and sentences.
Use the Second Judicial District Court criminal file.
NM DPS
Need statewide history?
New Mexico adult arrest records reported to the state central repository.
A separate authorization and $15 check are required.
Best sequence: Find the MDC booking → save the booking and case numbers → identify APD or another arresting agency → search Case Lookup → follow a felony into District Court → obtain the final disposition.
Search Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center bookings
Open the official MDC Custody List
Use the Bernalillo County system rather than a paid people-search website.
Open the MDC Custody List
Accept the county disclaimer
Bernalillo County states that the custody, arrest and release information is provided for reference and users should confirm accuracy.
Search the surname first
Start broad when the middle name, suffix or exact spelling is uncertain.
Open every plausible result
Do not rely on the first matching name.
Match the year of birth
Compare YOB or age with information you already know.
Save the Person ID and booking number
These are two of the strongest identifiers in the MDC result.
Check the booking and admission dates
Separate multiple jail admissions involving the same person.
Read every arrest entry
A single custody record can contain APD, BSO, court and additional-hold entries.
Record every case number
Numbers beginning with T4 often relate to Metropolitan Court matters; D202 identifiers are commonly associated with Second Judicial District Court cases.
Check charges, warrants and active holds separately
A hold can prevent release even when another matter shows release on recognizance.
Read the Bail Details section
Look for release on recognizance, hold, court-ordered release, transfer, time served or another release description.
Continue to the court record
The MDC page is not the final court disposition.
Search the related court case
What the Albuquerque jail fields actually mean
| Field | What it identifies | What it does not prove | Next action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Person ID | The individual inside the MDC information system. | The final criminal result. | Use it to distinguish same-name people. |
| Booking number | A specific jail booking episode. | Every listed allegation became a filed charge. | Save it for MDC inquiries. |
| Booking date | When the booking was created. | The exact offense date. | Compare it with arrest and admission times. |
| YOB | Year of birth used for identity verification. | Identity by itself. | Match name, agency and booking number too. |
| Active holds | Whether another custody restriction is shown. | The reason can be understood without reading all cases. | Review every warrant and case number. |
| Arresting agency | APD, Bernalillo Sheriff or another agency associated with the arrest. | MDC created the incident report. | Request police documents from the listed agency. |
| Case number | The court or agency matter tied to the custody record. | Every number represents a final prosecution. | Search each number in New Mexico Case Lookup. |
| Charge | An allegation associated with the booking or case. | Guilt or final filed charge. | Compare it with the court complaint or indictment. |
| Warrant | A warrant-related custody reason. | The warrant is still active after a later order. | Read the newest court docket entry. |
| Release type | How a listed custody matter ended. | Dismissal or acquittal. | Find the criminal disposition. |
Common MDC release labels: Release on Recognizance, Court Order Release, Released to Other Agency, Credit Time Served and other status descriptions can appear. Read every case separately.
Confirm the correct Albuquerque arrest record
Full legal name matches
Middle name or suffix is consistent
Year of birth matches
Booking date matches the known arrest
Arresting agency matches
Arrest location is consistent
Person ID and booking number are recorded
Court case follows the same event
Do not identify someone by name alone. Match at least two independent identifiers before sending money, publishing an allegation or treating the record as belonging to a particular person.
No Albuquerque booking found? Check these possibilities
Booking is still being processed
Intake, identification, screening and data entry can delay publication.
The name is entered differently
Try surname only, former names, compound surnames and alternate spellings.
APD released the person without an MDC booking
A police arrest does not always result in long-term county detention.
Bernalillo County Sheriff made the arrest
The person can still enter MDC, but the report belongs to the Sheriff rather than APD.
The arrest happened outside Bernalillo County
Search the detention facility serving the actual arrest location.
The person was transferred
Check New Mexico Corrections or another jurisdiction when transfer information appears.
The court case is newer than the public update
Search again using the exact case number.
The record is confidential or expunged
Juvenile and legally restricted records may not appear publicly.
Missing-booking call script
I am trying to confirm the custody status of [full legal name], year or date of birth [information]. The arrest may have occurred on [date] through [APD/BSO/other agency]. Can you confirm whether the person is still being processed, currently housed at MDC, released or transferred?
What happens after an Albuquerque arrest?
Police investigation
APD, Bernalillo County Sheriff or another agency creates the incident and arrest records.
MDC booking
Bernalillo County records identification, booking information, arresting agency, charges, warrants and holds.
First appearance
Metropolitan Court handles felony first appearances as well as its misdemeanor jurisdiction.
Release decision
The court may order release on recognizance, conditions of release, bond or continued detention under applicable law.
Prosecutor review
Prosecutors determine what charges to pursue.
Metro or District Court
Misdemeanors remain in Metro Court; felony cases proceed into Second Judicial District Court when bound over or indicted.
Disposition
Counts can end by dismissal, plea, acquittal, conviction, judgment or sentence.
Correction or expungement
Incorrect information can be corrected and qualifying New Mexico records may later be expunged.
Which Albuquerque office owns the record?
| Record needed | Correct custodian | Best identifier | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current MDC custody | Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center | Name, Person ID, booking number | Calling APD for jail housing. |
| APD police report | Albuquerque Police Department Records | Report number, date, involved name | Requesting the police narrative from Metro Court. |
| Sheriff report | Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office | Agency report number | Assuming every Albuquerque-area arrest was made by APD. |
| Misdemeanor or DWI case | Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court | T4 case number | Searching District Court first. |
| Felony trial case | Second Judicial District Court | D-202-CR case number | Stopping at the felony first-appearance record. |
| Statewide adult arrest history | New Mexico Department of Public Safety | Authorized identifying information | Treating Case Lookup as a statewide rap sheet. |
Request an Albuquerque Police arrest or incident report
APD Records
Phone: 505-768-2020
Walk-in hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Telephone hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Phone: 505-768-2020
Walk-in hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Telephone hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Police-report copies
$0.50 per page.
APD background check
Flat $5 fee.
Walk-in payment
Cash or check payable to City of Albuquerque. APD states it cannot accept bills larger than $20.
Confirm APD investigated the event
Read the MDC arresting-agency field before contacting APD.
Locate the report number
A report number makes the search faster and reduces same-name mistakes.
Prepare the arrest date and location
Include both when the report number is unavailable.
Call Records before paying
Ask for the current total and delivery instructions.
Call APD Records: 505-768-2020
Request a copy in person when practical
APD provides walk-in police-report and background-check service.
For a telephone request, send payment as instructed
Include the report number, contact information and the mailing or email address where the report should be sent.
Use IPRA when directed
Some restricted or complex records are routed through the City Clerk public-record process.
Open APD Records instructions
Copy-ready APD report request
I am requesting the releasable APD incident and arrest report concerning [full legal name] for the event on [date] at [location]. The APD report number is [number], MDC booking number is [number], and related court case number is [number]. Please advise the current page count, total copying charge and available delivery method before processing.
Find the filed charge and final disposition
Open the official statewide Case Lookup
The system contains current electronic case information from New Mexico Courts.
Open New Mexico Case Lookup
Search the exact case number first
Use every T4 or D202 number saved from the MDC booking.
Use name search only when necessary
Compare the birth information, court and filing date before assuming a match.
Identify the court
Metro Court and Second Judicial District Court have different jurisdiction and records offices.
Find the charging document
Compare the filed complaint, information or indictment with the jail allegation.
Read later docket entries
Charges and release conditions can change after the initial arrest.
Check every count separately
One count can be dismissed while another results in conviction.
Locate the final judgment or dismissal
Do not rely only on a status label.
Metro Court or District Court?
Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court
- Misdemeanors
- DWI/DUI
- Domestic violence
- Traffic cases
- Felony first appearances
- Felony preliminary examinations
Second Judicial District Court
- Felony criminal cases
- Cases bound over from Metro Court
- Grand-jury indictments
- Preventive-detention matters
- Felony judgments and sentencing
- Appeals from Metro Court criminal cases
The online Case Lookup does not itself constitute the official New Mexico Judiciary record. Obtain the actual court document when proof is required.
Get the actual Albuquerque criminal court document
Metropolitan Court
| Service | Published amount | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| Inspect court record | No inspection charge | Review the file in the Records Viewing Room. |
| Photocopy | $0.50 per page | Ordinary paper copy. |
| Electronically transferred court record | $1.00 per page | Electronic delivery when available. |
| Certified copy | Additional $0.50 per page | Formal proof of a Metro Court record. |
| CD | $5 | Records provided on disc when applicable. |
Metro Court Records Viewing Room
401 Lomas Blvd. NW
Albuquerque, NM 87102
Monday–Friday: 7:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Records Custodian: metrrecordscustodian@nmcourts.gov
401 Lomas Blvd. NW
Albuquerque, NM 87102
Monday–Friday: 7:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Records Custodian: metrrecordscustodian@nmcourts.gov
Second Judicial District Court
| Service | Published amount | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| Copies | $0.35 per page | Complaint, motion, judgment or other case document. |
| Certification | $1.50 per document plus copies | Certified disposition or court document. |
| Exemplification | $4.50 per document plus copies | When a recipient specifically requires exemplification. |
| Audio or other record on CD | $4 | Eligible court audio or electronic material. |
Second Judicial District Criminal Records
Criminal records phone: 505-841-7444
Email: albdcrim@nmcourts.gov
Criminal records phone: 505-841-7444
Email: albdcrim@nmcourts.gov
Check an Albuquerque warrant without using an outdated result
Search the person’s court case
Open New Mexico Case Lookup and find the exact Metro or District Court matter.
Read the newest warrant-related entry
A warrant can later be served, cancelled, recalled or otherwise resolved.
Compare with MDC warrants
An MDC record may show warrant descriptions and related case numbers.
For a Metro Court warrant, contact Customer Service
Metro Court publishes a warrant-resolution process through its courthouse.
Call Metro Court: 505-841-8151
Confirm before paying anything
The court warns about fraudulent calls and texts claiming to demand payment.
Use a lawyer when the warrant concerns you
Counsel can explain appearance, detention and release options.
Metro Court states that addressing an active warrant through Customer Service can involve a $100 administrative warrant fee, and the judge may also require a bond depending on the case.
Scam warning: Do not pay a warrant demand through gift cards, cryptocurrency or an unexpected text link. Call the court independently at its published number.
Understand release from Albuquerque MDC
New Mexico uses a risk-based pretrial system. A person should not remain jailed before trial solely because they cannot afford a money bond, while a court can order detention when the legal standard for dangerousness is met.
ROR
Release on recognizance without a money payment.
Conditions
Release can include supervision or other court-imposed requirements.
Preventive detention
A prosecutor may seek continued detention in an eligible felony case.
Money bond
Cash or surety bond may still apply in a case when ordered by the court.
How to post an in-custody Metro Court bond
Confirm the current bond first
Call MDC at 505-839-8700 or ask at the Metropolitan Court bonding window.
Go to Metropolitan Court
401 Lomas Blvd. NW, Albuquerque.
Use Customer Service during regular bonding hours
Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Use the external Bonding Window after hours
Current court information lists extended evening and weekend hours.
Bring government identification
State ID, driver license or another accepted government-issued ID is required.
Bring the exact name of the person in custody
Also have the MDC booking number and court case number when possible.
Use an accepted payment
Metro Court lists cash, cashier’s checks and money orders.
Keep the Notice of Hearing
After bond is posted, the defendant receives the next court date, time and location.
Metro Court states that release commonly occurs about four to ten hours after bond is posted, although holds, paperwork, transportation and other conditions can affect timing.
Prepare for a Bernalillo County jail visit
Always confirm current MDC visit procedures before creating an outside provider account or traveling. Housing, security restrictions, appointment rules and available visit methods can change.
Confirm that the person is still at MDC
Check the live custody list on the day you plan to schedule.
Save the Person ID and booking number
Do not try to register using only a common name.
Check the current housing unit
Housing can affect available visitation times.
Call MDC for the current visit method
Ask whether the housing unit uses onsite, remote video or another approved visit procedure.
Call MDC: 505-839-8700
Use only the provider named by MDC
Do not create an account from an advertisement or third-party search result.
Complete visitor registration accurately
Use your legal name, birth date and government identification exactly as required.
Confirm minor-visitor requirements
Ask what relationship, birth-certificate, guardian or consent documentation is required.
Wait for approval before traveling
Registration does not guarantee admission.
Recheck custody immediately before the visit
Release, court transport, transfer or restriction can cancel an appointment.
Bring original identification
Leave prohibited property outside and follow the current MDC dress and security rules.
Check these MDC rules before mail, calls or money
Visiting
- Confirm active custody first.
- Use the current MDC-approved visit method.
- Bring original government ID.
- Follow current clothing and security rules.
- Expect visits to be monitored where permitted.
Mail
- Confirm the current mailing instructions directly with MDC.
- Use the exact custody name and booking identifier.
- Separate legal mail from ordinary personal correspondence.
- Do not send cash or prohibited property.
- Do not assume the physical jail address is the personal-mail address.
Calls and deposits
- Use only the provider identified by MDC.
- Confirm the inmate identifier before depositing money.
- Review transaction fees before payment.
- Keep the confirmation number.
- Assume ordinary inmate calls may be monitored.
Attorney communication: Do not discuss confidential defense strategy on ordinary jail calls or messages. Ask defense counsel and MDC about the approved confidential legal-contact process.
Apply for the Albuquerque Public Defender
New Mexico Law Offices of the Public Defender – Albuquerque
505 Marquette NW, Suite 120
Albuquerque, NM 87102
Phone: 505-369-3600
Email: LOPD-ABQEligibility@lopdnm.us
Office: 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Eligibility applications accepted until 4:30 p.m.
505 Marquette NW, Suite 120
Albuquerque, NM 87102
Phone: 505-369-3600
Email: LOPD-ABQEligibility@lopdnm.us
Office: 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Eligibility applications accepted until 4:30 p.m.
Have the criminal case number ready
Use the Metro or District Court number from Case Lookup.
Contact the Albuquerque eligibility office
Ask which financial and case information is needed.
Complete the eligibility application
Provide accurate financial information.
Confirm whether counsel has already been appointed
An in-custody first appearance may occur before a family member contacts the office.
Give counsel every case number
Multiple warrants, probation matters or cases can affect release.
Do not discuss the facts on a recorded jail call
Keep substantive case discussions for confidential attorney communication.
Get a Bernalillo County victim advocate
Second Judicial District Attorney – Victim Services
520 Lomas Boulevard NW
Albuquerque, NM 87102
Phone: 505-222-1100
Email: ContactUs@da2nd.nm.gov
520 Lomas Boulevard NW
Albuquerque, NM 87102
Phone: 505-222-1100
Email: ContactUs@da2nd.nm.gov
Have the police report and case number ready
The advocate can identify the prosecution more quickly.
Ask about your rights under New Mexico law
Advocates explain victim rights and prosecution procedures.
Request case-status information
Ask about hearings, release, plea, sentencing and other major developments.
Discuss safety concerns
Ask about safety planning and available local resources.
Ask about financial-assistance resources
Victim Services can provide information about programs that may help with qualifying losses.
Request your police report from the investigating agency
The DA states that crime victims are entitled to one free copy of each police report in which they are listed as a victim, subject to lawful restrictions.
When to switch from MDC to the NMCD offender search
Use NMCD for
- State-prison custody
- NMCD number
- Current institution
- Probation or parole information
- State-prison family services
Do not use NMCD for
- Current MDC county-jail custody
- Every Albuquerque arrest
- APD police reports
- Metro Court misdemeanor records
- The official felony judgment
Open the NMCD Offender Search
Search by first name, last name or NMCD number.
Search New Mexico Corrections
Allow time after a transfer
NMCD states that prison offender-search information is updated nightly and may take about 24 hours to appear.
Record the NMCD number and institution
These are needed for state-prison mail, visits and money.
Return to District Court for legal proof
The offender locator is a custody system, not the certified judgment.
Request a statewide New Mexico arrest history
Metropolitan Court is not the official keeper of New Mexico criminal-history records. The State Central Repository is maintained by the New Mexico Department of Public Safety.
Current DPS fee
$15 per authorized record check.
Processing
DPS states approximately 7–15 working days after receipt.
Payment
Money order or cashier’s check payable to New Mexico Department of Public Safety.
Download the DPS Authorization for Release of Information
Use the current New Mexico DPS form.
Open DPS background-check instructions
Complete the form legibly
Use the subject’s accurate identifying information.
Have the authorization notarized
DPS requires the original signature on the submitted authorization.
Prepare the $15 payment
Use a money order or cashier’s check.
Mail the original completed request
Follow the current DPS mailing instructions.
Review arrest and disposition information
Compare the result against the underlying court files.
New Mexico Department of Public Safety – Law Enforcement Records Bureau
P.O. Box 1628
Santa Fe, NM 87504-1628
Physical: 4491 Cerrillos Rd., Santa Fe, NM 87507
Background checks: 505-827-9181
P.O. Box 1628
Santa Fe, NM 87504-1628
Physical: 4491 Cerrillos Rd., Santa Fe, NM 87507
Background checks: 505-827-9181
DPS states that the State Central Repository includes New Mexico felony, qualifying misdemeanor and DWI arrest information based on fingerprint records submitted by contributing agencies.
Fix a wrong Albuquerque arrest or court entry
Identify where the error appears
Is the problem in the MDC record, APD report, Metro Court case, District Court case or DPS history?
Save the incorrect entry
Record the booking number, report number, case number and disputed field.
Obtain the controlling document
Examples include an amended police report, dismissal, corrected judgment or certified disposition.
Correct the originating agency first
APD controls APD data; the court controls court records; DPS maintains the state repository.
Ask the court for a certified corrected document
Use it when the state repository or another system needs proof.
Send the correction to every affected custodian
One corrected system may not automatically update every other database.
Recheck after processing
Verify that the publicly visible record now matches the controlling document.
Correction is different from expungement. Correction changes inaccurate information. Expungement restricts or removes an otherwise accurate qualifying record under New Mexico law.
Expunge an eligible Albuquerque arrest or criminal record
Release without conviction
Use New Mexico Form 4-952 for the applicable petition process.
Conviction
Use Form 4-953 when seeking eligible conviction-related expungement.
Identity theft
Form 4-951 applies to the identity-theft expungement route.
Cannabis record
New Mexico Courts provides a separate cannabis-related expungement application process.
Find every Albuquerque case number
Search Metro and District Court records.
Obtain the final disposition
Determine whether the matter ended without conviction or resulted in conviction.
Review the current New Mexico eligibility process
Different rules apply depending on the record and outcome.
Open New Mexico Courts expungement guide
Choose the correct petition
Do not use a conviction petition for a non-conviction case.
Complete every identity and case field
Include former names when they were used in the original case.
File in the proper court
Albuquerque matters may involve Metropolitan Court records and/or Second Judicial District Court filings.
Serve the required agencies
Follow the form instructions for DPS, prosecutor and other required recipients.
File the required proof of service
Keep certified-mail receipts or other required service evidence.
Wait for agency responses
The expungement procedure includes an opportunity for required agencies to respond.
Complete the briefing forms when required
The New Mexico form set includes notices and affirmations used later in the petition process.
Attend a hearing if the court schedules one
Bring the dispositions and supporting documents.
Keep the signed expungement order
Use it to verify updates with APD, MDC, the courts and DPS.
Albuquerque arrest, jail and court contact board
Albuquerque Police Records
Reports and APD local background checks.
Metropolitan Detention Center
100 Deputy Dean Miera Dr. SW
Albuquerque area
Albuquerque area
Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court
401 Lomas Blvd. NW
Albuquerque, NM 87102
Albuquerque, NM 87102
Second Judicial District Criminal Records
Albuquerque Public Defender
505 Marquette NW, Suite 120
Albuquerque, NM 87102
Albuquerque, NM 87102
Second Judicial District Attorney
520 Lomas Blvd. NW
Albuquerque, NM 87102
Albuquerque, NM 87102
Albuquerque Police Department map
Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court map
Metropolitan Detention Center map
Before traveling: Confirm current custody, the correct court, office hours, identification requirements and whether the service you need is offered in person.
What this Albuquerque guide already explains in-page
MDC custody
Booking identifiers, arrests, charges, warrants, holds, housing and release-field interpretation.
APD Records
Current report pricing, background-check fee, hours, payment and request workflow.
Metro Court
Jurisdiction, records room, copy fees, warrants, bonding and case verification.
District Court
Felony routing, criminal-record contact, copy charges, certification and case-file requests.
New Mexico DPS
$15 statewide adult record check, notarized authorization and 7–15 working-day guidance.
Record relief
Identity-theft, non-conviction, conviction and cannabis expungement paths.
Albuquerque arrest-record questions answered
How do I search Albuquerque arrest records?
Start with the official Bernalillo County MDC Custody List, verify the booking identifiers and continue to New Mexico Courts Case Lookup.
Does APD have an online jail roster?
No separate APD jail roster should be used for current county custody. People booked into Bernalillo County detention are searched through the MDC Custody List.
What does the MDC record show?
It can show Person ID, booking number, year of birth, booking and admission dates, arresting agency, location, charges, warrants, active holds and release information.
How do I find the final Albuquerque court outcome?
Search the related Metro Court or Second Judicial District Court case and read the newest disposition, judgment or dismissal entry.
How much is an APD police report?
APD currently publishes a charge of $0.50 per report page.
How much is an APD background check?
APD currently lists a flat $5 fee for its local background-check service.
Where do felony Albuquerque cases go?
Felony first appearances can begin in Metropolitan Court, while felony trial cases proceed through the Second Judicial District Court.
How do I check an Albuquerque warrant?
Use New Mexico Courts Case Lookup, read the newest docket entries and confirm current status with the court before taking action.
How much is a New Mexico statewide arrest-record check?
New Mexico DPS currently charges $15 per authorized in-state criminal-history record check.
Can an Albuquerque arrest be expunged?
Some qualifying New Mexico records can be expunged. Separate forms apply to release without conviction, conviction, identity theft and certain cannabis records.