McKinley County Arrest, Court, and Public Records

What are McKinley County Public Records?

Per the New Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act, McKinley County public records include any documents that the county’s officials or employees create, use, or store during the ordinary course of official business. These documents may take the form of paper, audio, photo, books, maps, and other digital items. According to the public records act, these documents are publicly available to be viewed or copied - with certain exemptions. The Act allows managing agencies to restrict public access to individual or entire portions of a public record if they hold the following information:

Patent and individually owned copyright materials;
Materials that legally belong to individuals and not governmental agencies;
Government workers’ private contact information;
Recordings (audio, video, or transcript) of sessions that take place at the Children's Court;
Final drafts that government agencies use when preparing action or policy;
Details on current disciplinary actions taken against government employees;
Data on proprietary digital applications used by government agencies;
Medical records;
Matters of opinions;
Letters of references;
Law enforcement records;
Public hospital records;
Tactical records;
Plans and records that adhere to the New Mexico Confidential Materials Act.

McKinley County Crime Statistics

The New Mexico Department of Public Safety publishes crime statistics for counties in the State using data collated from law enforcement reports. This information is available to the public on its Uniform Crime Reports Website. Its records published in 2019 reveal 1201 violent crimes and 1506 property crimes reported in McKinley County. There were two murders, 17 rapes, 85 robberies, and 1097 assaults. Property crimes included 192 motor vehicle thefts, 313 burglaries, and 1001 larcenies. A side-by-side analysis of the 2014 report shows that the least and highest recorded crimes within the five years were murder and larceny-theft, respectively. Overall, there were considerable declines in 5 out of 7 major crimes in the county. These included rape (-57.49%), murder (-33%), assault (-28.62%), burglary (-34.79%), and larceny (-49.89%). Robbery and motor vehicle theft went up by 2.41% and 52.38%, respectively.

Are McKinley County Criminal Records Public?

McKinley County criminal records are public. According to the New Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act, public members may request, view, and copy another McKinley County resident’s criminal record. The McKinley County Sheriff’s Office provides fingerprint-based criminal history checks and background checks for county residents.

The New Mexico Department of Public Safety also creates and maintains criminal records statewide and offers every citizen one free background check annually. State statutes, however, exempt juvenile criminal records from public access. Individuals who wish to obtain McKinley criminal records may query the New Mexico Department of Public Safety in person or by mail. Interested parties must complete an Authorization for Release of Information form, notarize it, and send it to:

The New Mexico Department of Public Safety
4491 Cerrillos Road
Santa Fe, NM 87507
(505) 827-9251

Requesting a McKinley County criminal record costs $15, and applicants can pay by check or money order addressed to the New Mexico Department of Public Safety.

How to Obtain McKinley County Police Reports and Arrest Records?

Interested public members may request McKinley County arrest records and police reports from the Records Division of the McKinley County Sheriff’s Office using the Freedom of Information Act Request Form. Applicants can complete the form and use three methods to send the request: phone, mail, or fax. Fax the request to (505) 722-9317, place a call to (505) 863-1410, or send it to the office’s mailing address below:

300 B West Nizhoni Boulevard
Gallup, NM 87301

Members of the public may also request these reports from the DPS. To do so, they must fill out the IPRA Written Request Form and send it by fax, mail, online, or email. Fax the request to (505) 827-3388. Individuals requesting accident reports may email the office. Applicants may also use the form on the DPS website to send an electronic request. Anyone who wishes to use the mail service may use the following address:

P.O. Box 1628
Santa Fe, NM 87504

How To Find McKinley County Sex Offender Information?

The public may obtain information on sex offenders using the Sex Offender Registry maintained by the DPS. Anyone can search for sex offenders by name, city, address, or zip code. County residents may also sign up to receive community notifications when offenders move into their neighborhood.

Where And How To Find McKinley County Inmate Information?

Information on incarcerated individuals can be obtained by contacting the county jail at:

255 South Boardman Drive
Gallup, NM 87301
Phone: (505) 726-8474

Individuals who want to fund an inmate’s account may use the ATM at the jail to make online deposits with a credit card. Alternatively, visit the kiosk located in the facility to deposit or mail the fee using a money order to the address below:

(Inmates Name)
255 South Boardman Drive
Gallup, NM 87301

How do I Visit an Inmate in McKinley County Jail?

McKinley County has one correctional facility at:

255 South Boardman Drive
Gallup, NM 87301
Phone: (505) 726-8474

People who want to visit a male inmate may do so from Monday to Friday, excluding Wednesday, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday is reserved for visiting female inmates. The jail requires all visitors above 18 years of age to provide a valid government-issued ID. Each inmate may have a maximum of three visitors per visit. Minors between 3 to 17 must provide an original birth certificate and social security card, while children under two years old may not visit the jail facility. Although visitors may not bring their items into the facility, the jail management provides a locker service for storage purposes at 25 cents.

McKinley County Court Records

McKinley County court records are the official case files of courts in the county. The records may contain court proceedings, judgments, docket numbers, transcripts, recordings, and other relevant information from cases tried in the county courts. To view weekly and daily criminal and civil case reports, interested persons may visit the specific courthouse clerk in-person or online. Alternatively, they may send a request to the courthouse clerk by email. The standard fee for obtaining e-copies of court records is $1 per page. Paper copies, however, cost 50 cents per page. Certifying copies of McKinley court records cost 50 cents per page, while audio recordings of court hearings cost $5 per disk.

The New Mexico State Judiciary also maintains the Case Lookup and Secured Odyssey Public Access portal. Anyone may search by name, case number, or DWI and view electronic McKinley court records from McKinley County courts on the website. However, juvenile records are exempt. Interested persons may use the online Public Records Request Form to obtain records before 1997. To access juvenile records, contact the Clerk of Court in the Magistrate or District McKinley Court, where the parties filed the case.

There is a District Court, Magistrate Court, and Municipal Court in McKinley County. Find court addresses, business hours, and contact numbers below:

Eleventh Judicial District Court - Gallup
207 West Hill Avenue
2nd Floor - Room 200
Gallup, NM 87301
Phone: (505) 863-6816
Fax: (505) 722-3401
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday to Friday

Magistrate Court - III
285 Boardman
Suite C,
Gallup, NM 87301
Phone: (505) 722-6636
Fax: (505) 863-3510
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday to Friday

Municipal Court - Gallup
451 State Road 564,
Gallup, NM 87305
Phone: (505) 863-4469
Fax: (505) 863-9291

Are McKinley County Court Records Public?

In compliance with the New Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act, most McKinley County court records are publicly accessible, with exemptions applied to specific records. For instance, a McKinley County judge may order portions or entire documents exempt from public view based on personal privacy, juvenile status, or other reasons. In McKinley County, the court clerk that files the case maintains and disseminates the court records.

How to Obtain McKinley County Civil Court Case Records?

Individuals searching for McKinley County civil court case records may obtain them using the New Mexico Courts Lookup Tool. Anyone may search by name or case number and view electronic civil case records from McKinley County’s courts on the website. Researchers may also obtain civil court case records by filling out an IPRA online request form online. Applicants must input the case’s specific details and provide a return email address to receive the requested documents when they become available. Individuals who wish to obtain McKinley County civil court case records in person may visit the court clerk's office in the Courthouse that maintains the record.

How to Obtain McKinley County Criminal Court Records?

Individuals searching for McKinley County criminal court records may obtain them using the New Mexico Courts Lookup Tool. Anyone may search by the defendant’s name or case number and view electronic criminal court records from McKinley County courts on the website. Researchers may also obtain criminal court records by filling out an IPRA online request form online. Applicants must input the case’s specific details and provide a return email address to receive the requested documents when they become available. Individuals who wish to obtain McKinley County criminal court records in person may visit the court clerk’s office in the Courthouse that maintains the record.

What Are McKinley County Vital Records?

McKinley County vital records are official documents that depict the life events of county residents. They include birth, death, marriage, and divorce records. In the county, individuals may obtain copies of marriage licenses through the McKinley County Clerk. The McKinley County Public Health Office issues birth certificates, and the New Mexico Department of Health’s Vital Records Office issues death certificates. However, birth records are restricted records and remain so for 100 years. Most McKinley County vital records are only available to eligible parties.

Where And How To Get McKinley County Divorce Records?

Typically, the McKinley District Court Clerk manages McKinley County divorce records and makes them available to interested public members. The New Mexico Court Case registry maintains divorce documents across the state and makes them available through the New Mexico Courts Lookup Tool.

Individuals interested in obtaining McKinley County divorce records may do so by filling and submitting an IPRA online request form. Applicants must fill the form with accurate information about the divorce, including the divorcees’ names and the divorce date. Requesters may also contact the McKinley District Court Clerk in-person during work hours for copies of divorce decrees at the address below:

Eleventh Judicial District Court - Gallup
207 West Hill Avenue
2nd Floor - Room 200
Gallup, NM 87301
Phone: (505) 863-6816
Fax: (505) 722-3401
Monday to Friday; 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Where And How To Get Public McKinley County Marriage Records?

Per New Mexico statutes, McKinley County marriage records are publicly available. The McKinley County Clerk manages the county’s marriage register and makes copies of marriage records available to interested public members. Individuals who wish to obtain copies of McKinley County marriage certificates from the McKinley County Clerk’s Office may do so at the following address:

207 West Hill Avenue
Gallup, NM 87301
Phone: (505) 863-6816
Fax: (505) 863-1419

Applicants are required to provide the following details:

Full name of the bride
Full name of the group
Year of marriage (or approximate)

Where and How to Get Confidential Marriage Records in McKinley County

The McKinley County Clerk manages the county’s marriage register and makes copies of marriage records available to interested public members. Per New Mexico statutes, all McKinley County marriage records are publicly available.

Where And How To Get McKinley County Birth Records

Eligible parties may obtain McKinley County birth records less than 100 years old from the McKinley County Public Health Office, 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday to Thursday, at the address below:

1919 College Drive
Gallup, NM 87301
Phone: (505) 722-4391
Fax: (505) 722-3034

Per New Mexico statutes, eligible parties include:

The record’s subject (if above eighteen years old);
The parent or legal guardian of the record’s subject;
The biological or adopted siblings of the record’s subject;
The biological or adopted children of the record’s subject;
The biological or adopted grandchildren of the record’s subject;
The spouse of the record’s subject;
The maternal grandparents of the record’s subject;
The paternal grandparents of the record’s subject (if the father’s name is on the record).

To obtain a McKinley County birth certificate, eligible parties may download the Birth Record Application Form (Spanish) or write a request which must the following details about the person named on record:

Birth name.
Date of birth.
County/City of birth.
Parents’ full names (including the mother’s maiden name)

The requestor should also provide the following details:

Full name and signature.
Mailing address.
Relationship to registrant
Reason for request.

Applicants must make an appointment with the office and visit the office with the completed form, valid identification, and applicable fees. Copies of McKinley County birth certificates cost $10 per record.

Applicants may also mail the New Mexico Vital Records Office with the documents and applicable fees using the address below. Requesters may make payment by money order or check - made payable to New Mexico Vital Records.

New Mexico Vital Records
P.O. Box 25767
Albuquerque, NM 87125

Where And How To Get McKinley County Death Records?

Eligible parties may obtain McKinley County death records older than fifty years from the New Mexico Vital Records Santa Fe Office. Requesters will need to provide a valid government-issued I.D. before they can receive copies of the record. Dona Ana County death certificates become open to the public 50 years after they are first issued. Until then, the records are only available to the legal representatives or the following relatives or of the deceased person:

Decedent’s parent
Decedent’s siblings
Decedent’s biological or adopted children
Decedent’s biological or adopted grandchildren
Decedent’s spouse
Decedent’s maternal grandparents
Decedent’s paternal grandparents (if the father’s name is on the record)

Individuals who wish to obtain a McKinley County death certificate and are not directly related to the deceased must provide appropriate evidence of legal interest to receive the certificate.

Interested persons may request death records in person at the New Mexico Vital Records Santa Fe Office or send a mail request. Complete a Death Record Search Application Form (Spanish) and visit the office during business hours at the address below. Come with acceptable identification and the required fees. It costs $5 per certified copy.

1105 South Street Francis Drive
Santa Fe, NM 87505
Phone: (505) 827-0121

Applicants may also make inquiries using the toll-free line, (866) 534-0051.

Alternatively, rather than filling the application form, requesters may write their requests using the following format:

The name of the subject of the record;
The date of birth of the subject of the record;
The city of birth of the subject of the record, including the county, if known;
The maiden name of the mother of the subject of the record, if known;
The name of the father of the subject of the record, if known;
Applicant’s relationship to the of the subject of the record;
The reason for the application;
The signature and name of the applicant;
The applicant’s mailing address.

For mail requests, send a written appeal or make use of the application form. Include the applicable fees, payable by certified check or money order to the New Mexico Vital Records, and a photocopy of valid identification. Send all three to the following address:

New Mexico Vital Records
P.O. Box 25767
Albuquerque, NM 87125

In addition to government agencies, county public records may also be obtained from third-party websites. These non-government platforms come with intuitive tools that allow for expansive searches. Record seekers may either opt to use these tools to search for a specific record or multiple records. Users are able to search third-party websites remotely for multiple records at a time with just the name of the record subject and their last known location, including the city, county, or state. Third-party sites are not sponsored by government agencies. Because of this, record availability and results may vary.