Criminal records in Santa Fe County, New Mexico, are available through several channels. SantaFeCourt.us allows you to search publicly available information about criminal cases in the county. Additionally, records can be found through the state's online court portals, county law enforcement agencies, and the clerk's office. Below are step-by-step instructions for searching, understanding, and obtaining criminal records in Santa Fe County.
How to Search Criminal Records in Santa Fe
To start your search, you will need at least one of the following:
- Full name of the person
- Date of birth
- Case number
Through SantaFeCourt.us
Go to SantaFeCourt.us and enter the name or case number. The system will display publicly available information about criminal cases heard in Santa Fe County courts.
Online through State Court Portals
The New Mexico court system provides free public access to records through several tools:
- Case Lookup — the Case Lookup portal does not require registration. Select the First Judicial District Court (which serves Santa Fe County), enter the name or case number.
- Odyssey Public Access — on the New Mexico Courts' Public Access portal, select the desired location and search by name or case number.
- re:SearchNM — an advanced tool available through the Public Access and re:Search®NM page, covering appellate, district, magistrate, and municipal courts.
For cases heard in the Santa Fe Municipal Court (minor offenses, city ordinance violations), contact the Santa Fe Municipal Court.
Inmate and Arrest Search
A separate tool — SFADF Inmate Lookup — allows you to check if a person is in the Santa Fe County Adult Detention Facility. It includes a booking log and name search.
For individuals serving state-level sentences, use the New Mexico Corrections Department offender search.
In Person
Visit the First Judicial District Court building in Santa Fe. Public access terminals are usually available in the courthouse during business hours. The court clerk can assist with finding a specific case.
Request by Mail or in Writing
To obtain copies of court documents, send a written request to the First Judicial District public records department. Include the full name of the party, case number (if known), and type of document.
To obtain an official criminal history (arrest record information) at the state level, submit a request to the Law Enforcement Records Bureau of the New Mexico Department of Public Safety. This process requires fingerprinting.
Law Enforcement Records
Records from the sheriff's office (incident reports, arrest records) are maintained by the Records Division of the sheriff's office. Phone: 505-986-2400. Requests for Santa Fe Police Department records are submitted through the Police Records Request page.
Search Santa Fe Criminal Cases by Case Number
A case number in New Mexico has a standard format that helps identify the court, case type, and year of filing. The typical structure looks like this:
D-101-CR-2025-00123
- D — District Court; for magistrate court, it will be "M"
- 101 — court code (101 corresponds to the First Judicial District, Santa Fe County)
- CR — case type: CR means criminal case. Other codes: LR (limited criminal/misdemeanor), DV (domestic violence), JQ (juvenile)
- 2025 — year of case filing
- 00123 — sequential case number
If you have the full case number, enter it directly into the search field on the Case Lookup or Odyssey Public Access portal. This is the fastest way to find a specific case — the result will appear immediately without the need to filter the list by name.
Charges, Case Status, Hearings, and Court Results in Santa Fe
Charges
| Element | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Statute Code | Reference to the New Mexico Criminal Code (NMSA 1978), e.g., § 30-16-1 — theft |
| Severity | Felony (serious crime, 1–4 degrees), Misdemeanor, Petty misdemeanor |
| Amended Charges | The prosecutor may amend or drop individual charges during the case |
Case Status
- Pending — the case is open, no decision has been made yet
- Active — the case is in court proceedings
- Disposed — the court has made a decision (verdict, dismissal, rejection)
- Closed — all obligations have been fulfilled, the case is closed permanently
Hearings
A criminal case in district court goes through several stages:
- Arraignment — first court appearance, charges are announced, plea entered (guilty/not guilty)
- Preliminary Hearing — the judge determines if there is enough evidence to proceed (for felony)
- Pre-trial Conference — discussion of procedural issues, possible plea agreements
- Trial — court trial
- Sentencing — sentencing
- Review Hearing — review of compliance with sentencing conditions (e.g., probation)
Court Results
| Result | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Guilty | Found guilty |
| Not Guilty | Found not guilty after trial |
| Dismissed | The case was closed without a verdict (initiated by the prosecutor or court) |
| Nolle Prosequi | The prosecutor declined to pursue the case |
| Acquitted | Acquitted by court or jury decision |
| Deferred Sentence | Sentence deferred upon meeting certain conditions; charges may be dropped upon successful completion |
How to Request Certified Criminal Records in Santa Fe
The type of record determines where to apply.
Court Records
Certified copies of court documents are issued by the clerk of the First Judicial District Court. Submit a request through the First Judicial District public records page or send a request for inspection of public records (IPRA) through the New Mexico Courts IPRA portal.
First Judicial District Court
What to include in the request:
- Full name of the party in the case
- Case number (if known)
- Type of document needed
- Valid ID (when obtaining in person)
County Law Enforcement Records
To obtain sheriff's records (arrest reports, incident reports), submit a request through the Santa Fe County public records portal or send it by mail:
Records Division of the sheriff's office:
State-Level Criminal History
An official criminal background check is conducted by the Law Enforcement Records Bureau at the New Mexico Department of Public Safety. The process requires fingerprinting and submitting an application through the Fingerprinting and Background Checks page. State courts do not conduct criminal background checks for the public.
Fees, Copy Costs, and Processing Times for Criminal Records in Santa Fe
The fees depend on the type of record and the issuing agency.
| Service | Cost | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Copy of court document (uncertified) | $0.50 per page | Standard NM courts rate |
| Certified copy of court document | $1.50 per document + $0.50 per page | Certification fee added to copying cost |
| Criminal history check (DPS, fingerprint-based) | Depends on type of check | Contact DPS for current rates |
| Copies of sheriff's records (IPRA) | Usually free or minimal fee | According to the Inspection of Public Records Act; copying costs may apply |
Processing Times
- Court copies — usually a few business days for in-person requests; mail requests may take 1–2 weeks
- IPRA requests — under New Mexico law, the agency must respond within 15 business days (with possible extension)
- Criminal history check through DPS — times vary; usually from a few weeks to a month
Payment at the court is typically accepted in cash, money order, or check. Confirm acceptable forms of payment directly with the agency before visiting.