Chaves County Public Records /Chaves County Criminal Records

Chaves County Criminal Records

What Is Chaves County Criminal Records

Criminal records in Chaves County are official government documents that chronicle an individual's interactions with the criminal justice system, from initial law enforcement contact through final court disposition. These records are generated and maintained by multiple agencies operating at the local, county, and state levels.

Under New Mexico law, criminal records encompass several distinct categories that members of the public should understand before submitting a records request:

Arrest records vs. conviction records: An arrest record documents that law enforcement took an individual into custody based on probable cause. A conviction record reflects a formal finding of guilt by a court of law. An arrest does not constitute a conviction, and individuals may have arrest records without any corresponding conviction.
Felony vs. misdemeanor: Felony offenses are the more serious classification and carry potential sentences exceeding one year of incarceration. Misdemeanor offenses are less severe and typically result in shorter sentences, fines, or probation.
Adult vs. juvenile records: Adult criminal records are generally accessible to the public under applicable law. Juvenile records are routinely sealed pursuant to § 32A-2-32 NMSA 1978, which governs the confidentiality of delinquency proceedings, and are not available for public inspection except under specific statutory exceptions.
Active warrants vs. historical records: Active warrants reflect current judicial orders for an individual's arrest and remain in force until executed or recalled. Historical records document past arrests, charges, and dispositions that have been resolved.

The principal agencies responsible for maintaining criminal records in Chaves County include:

Chaves County Sheriff's Office — maintains arrest records, booking records, and jail records for individuals processed through the county detention facility
Roswell Police Department — maintains arrest and incident records for offenses occurring within the City of Roswell
Fifth Judicial District Court — maintains case files, charging documents, arraignment records, plea agreements, trial records, sentencing orders, and probation or parole conditions for all criminal matters adjudicated in Chaves County
New Mexico Department of Public Safety, Law Enforcement Records Bureau — maintains the statewide criminal history repository, aggregating records reported by all law enforcement agencies across New Mexico

A complete criminal record may include charges filed, arraignment proceedings, entered pleas, trial outcomes, sentencing details, and any conditions of probation or parole supervision.

Chaves County Sheriff's Office 100 N. Garden Ave., Roswell, NM 88201 (575) 624-6700 Chaves County Sheriff's Office

Fifth Judicial District Court – Chaves County 400 N. Virginia Ave., Roswell, NM 88201 (575) 622-2212 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM Fifth Judicial District Court

Roswell Police Department 425 N. Main St., Roswell, NM 88201 (575) 624-6770 Roswell Police Department

Are Criminal Records Public In Chaves County

Criminal records in Chaves County are presumptively public under the New Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA), codified at § 14-2-1 NMSA 1978. IPRA establishes that all public records held by government agencies are open to inspection by any member of the public unless a specific statutory exemption applies. The Act defines "public records" broadly to include any document, paper, book, map, tape, photograph, or other material made or received by a government agency in connection with the transaction of public business.

Under current law, the following categories of criminal records are generally available for public inspection in Chaves County:

Adult conviction records, including charges, pleas, verdicts, and sentencing orders
Court case filings and docket entries maintained by the Fifth Judicial District Court
Arrest logs and booking records held by the Sheriff's Office and local police departments
Sex offender registration information maintained pursuant to the New Mexico Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act

The following categories are restricted from public disclosure:

Juvenile delinquency records, which are sealed by operation of law
Records pertaining to ongoing criminal investigations, where disclosure would compromise law enforcement operations
Expunged or sealed adult records, where a court has issued an order restricting access
Confidential informant identities and certain victim information protected under state law

Members of the public may inspect court records through the New Mexico Courts public records portal or by submitting an IPRA request directly to the relevant custodial agency.

How To Look Up Criminal Records In Chaves County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain criminal records in Chaves County through several official channels. The following steps outline the process for accessing records through the primary custodial agencies:

Through the Fifth Judicial District Court:

Visit the Fifth Judicial District Court public records page to access the Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA) request form.
Complete the IPRA request form, identifying the subject individual by full legal name and, where known, date of birth or case number.
Submit the completed form by mail, in person at the court clerk's counter, or via the method specified on the court's IPRA page.
Under IPRA, the custodian must respond within three business days of receiving the request, either by providing the records, denying the request with a written explanation, or notifying the requester that additional time is needed.

Through the Chaves County Sheriff's Office:

Submit a written public records request to the Sheriff's Office Records Division at 100 N. Garden Ave., Roswell, NM 88201.
Identify the subject by full name, date of birth, and the approximate date of the arrest or incident.
Pay any applicable fees for copies, which are set by agency policy and may not exceed the actual cost of reproduction under IPRA.

Through the New Mexico Department of Public Safety:

Submit a request to the Law Enforcement Records Bureau for a statewide criminal history record check.
For name-based checks, complete the applicable request form available on the DPS website.
For fingerprint-supported background checks, schedule an appointment through the DPS fingerprinting and background checks service.

New Mexico Department of Public Safety – Law Enforcement Records Bureau 4491 Cerrillos Rd., Santa Fe, NM 87507 (505) 827-9181 New Mexico Department of Public Safety

How To Find Criminal Records in Chaves County Online?

Several official online portals currently provide access to Chaves County criminal records without requiring an in-person visit.

New Mexico Judiciary Case Lookup: The New Mexico Courts system provides a statewide case search tool accessible through the New Mexico Courts public records page. Members of the public may search by party name, case number, or attorney name. The portal returns case type, filing date, charges, case status, and scheduled hearing dates. No registration is required for basic case lookups.
Fifth Judicial District Court Records: The Fifth Judicial District website provides direct access to case lookup functions for Chaves County, Eddy County, and Lea County. Users may search active and historical criminal cases filed in the district court. The portal includes docket entries, hearing schedules, and case dispositions.
Chaves County Detention Center Jail Roster: The Chaves County Sheriff's Office maintains a current jail roster that lists individuals presently held in the county detention facility. This roster is accessible through the Sheriff's Office website and is updated on a regular basis. It includes the detainee's name, booking date, and charges.
New Mexico Offender Search: The New Mexico Corrections Department maintains an online offender search tool for individuals currently incarcerated in state correctional facilities or under active supervision.

Records that are available only through in-person inspection or written request include sealed case files, expunged records, and certain law enforcement investigative reports that have not been released for public access.

Can You Search Chaves County Criminal Records for Free?

Members of the public are entitled to inspect public records at no charge under § 14-2-8 NMSA 1978, which provides that government agencies may not charge a fee for the inspection of public records. Fees may only be assessed for the actual cost of reproducing copies of records in a physical or electronic format.

The following resources are currently available at no cost:

New Mexico Courts case lookup portal — accessible through the New Mexico Courts public records page; provides free online access to case information statewide
Fifth Judicial District Court case search — available through the Fifth Judicial District website at no charge for basic case information
Chaves County Detention Center jail roster — available at no cost through the Sheriff's Office website
In-person inspection at the Fifth Judicial District Court clerk's office — members of the public may inspect court files in person at 400 N. Virginia Ave., Roswell, NM 88201, during regular business hours without charge

Fees apply when requesting certified copies of court documents, printed copies of records, or fingerprint-supported background checks processed through the New Mexico Department of Public Safety.

What's Included in a Chaves County Criminal Record?

A comprehensive criminal record maintained by agencies in Chaves County may contain the following categories of information:

Identifying Information

Full legal name and known aliases
Date of birth
Physical description, including height, weight, eye color, and hair color
Mugshot photograph taken at the time of booking
Last known address
State Identification Number (SID) assigned by the New Mexico Department of Public Safety
FBI Number assigned upon submission of fingerprints to the federal repository

Arrest Information

Date, time, and location of arrest
Arresting agency (Sheriff's Office, Roswell Police Department, or other law enforcement)
Booking number and detention facility
Charges filed at the time of arrest
Bail or bond amount set and conditions of release
Jail facility where the individual was held

Court Case Information

Case number and court of jurisdiction (Fifth Judicial District Court or Magistrate Court)
Filing date and assigned judge
Charges and applicable statutes, including felony or misdemeanor classification
Entered plea (guilty, not guilty, or no contest)
Attorney of record and prosecuting agency

Disposition Information

Verdict (guilty, not guilty, or dismissed)
Conviction date where applicable
Sentencing details, including type and length of sentence, fines, restitution ordered, and conditions of supervision
Appeals filed and outcomes
Probation or parole terms and supervising agency

Additional Record Elements

Active or recalled arrest warrants
Protective or restraining orders
Sex offender registration status
DUI or DWI adjudications
Traffic violations adjudicated in criminal court
Pending charges not yet resolved

How Long Does Chaves County Keep Criminal Records?

Chaves County agencies and the New Mexico state government maintain criminal records according to retention schedules established under state law and administrative rule. The New Mexico Commission of Public Records and the State Records Center and Archives govern retention requirements for government records statewide.

Current retention periods for principal categories of criminal records include:

Felony conviction records: Retained permanently by the Fifth Judicial District Court and the New Mexico Department of Public Safety Law Enforcement Records Bureau
Misdemeanor conviction records: Retained for a minimum of seven years following the final disposition of the case, with many agencies retaining these records permanently
Arrest records without conviction: Retained according to agency policy; individuals may petition for expungement under applicable New Mexico law following a statutory waiting period
Jail booking records: Retained by the Chaves County Sheriff's Office for a minimum of five to seven years, subject to the applicable records retention schedule
Court case files (felony): Retained permanently by the district court clerk
Court case files (misdemeanor and petty misdemeanor): Retained for a minimum of seven years following case closure
Juvenile delinquency records: Sealed upon the subject's reaching adulthood and retained in sealed status for the period specified under § 32A-2-32 NMSA 1978, after which destruction may be authorized

The New Mexico State Records Center and Archives publishes the official General Records Retention and Disposition Schedule, which governs the minimum retention periods applicable to all county and state agencies. Agencies may retain records beyond the minimum period at their discretion.