The Bernalillo County jail roster is a publicly accessible record of individuals currently held at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Albuquerque, New Mexico. BernalilloCourt.us can help you find publicly available information about current and recent inmates in Bernalillo County. You can also access jail roster information through the official Bernalillo County custody list online, by calling the detention center directly, or by visiting in person. A jail roster search allows the public to verify whether someone is in custody, view current charges, and check booking details. The Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office maintains the MDC Custody List, which is updated regularly and hosted on the county's website.
Search Current Inmates in Bernalillo Jail
There are several ways to look up someone currently held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Bernalillo County.
Online Search
The most direct method is the MDC Custody List, maintained by Bernalillo County. To search:
- Go to the MDC Custody List page.
- Enter one or more search fields — you can filter by arrest date, inmate ID, or name.
- Click "Search" to display matching results, or click search with no filters to browse the entire custody list.
You will need at least one of the following to begin a search:
- The inmate's full legal last name (first name optional but helpful)
- An inmate ID or booking number, if known
- An approximate arrest date
For related court case information, you can use BernalilloCourt.us to search publicly available court records. The New Mexico Courts Case Lookup tool also provides access to electronic court records across all New Mexico courts, including the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court.
Juvenile offenders are not included on the public custody list.
By Phone
You can call the Metropolitan Detention Center to ask whether a specific person is currently in custody. Be prepared to provide the individual's full legal name and date of birth.
In Person
Inquiries can be made at the MDC lobby during regular visiting or business hours.
You can also check for active warrants through the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office warrant search tool.
Find Bernalillo Jail Booking Records Online
A booking record is created each time an individual is processed into the Metropolitan Detention Center. This happens after arrest and transport to the facility, and it generates a formal record of the intake.
Information typically recorded at booking includes:
- Booking number (unique identifier for that intake)
- Date and time of booking
- Charges at the time of intake
- Arresting agency (e.g., Albuquerque Police Department, Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office, New Mexico State Police)
- Personal identifiers such as name, date of birth, and physical description
Current booking records for individuals still in custody can be viewed through the MDC Custody List. If you need booking records for someone who has already been released, or if you need certified copies, you may need to submit a records request directly to the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office or the Metropolitan Detention Center.
Under New Mexico's Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA), most booking records are considered public. Certain information — such as records involving juveniles or sealed cases — may be restricted. For criminal history records beyond what the county jail maintains, the Law Enforcement Records Bureau at the New Mexico Department of Public Safety manages the state's criminal history repository.
Search the Bernalillo Jail Roster by Last Name or Booking Number
The MDC Custody List supports two primary search methods:
Search by Name
- Enter the inmate's last name in the appropriate field. Adding a first name helps narrow results, especially for common surnames.
- Use the person's full legal name rather than nicknames or aliases.
- Double-check spelling — a single incorrect letter can cause the search to return no results.
Search by Inmate ID
- If you have an inmate ID number (sometimes referred to as a booking number), enter it directly into the Inmate ID field.
- This is the fastest way to locate a specific record, since the number is unique to each booking event.
Tips for Narrowing Results
| Issue | What to Try |
|---|---|
| Common last name returns too many results | Add first name or use arrest date filter |
| Name not found | Verify spelling; try alternate spellings or hyphenated names |
| Person recently arrested | Wait and search again — there may be a processing delay |
| Person may have been released | The roster shows current custody only; contact MDC for release verification |
If the search returns no results and you believe the person should be in custody, call MDC directly at (505) 839-8700. The individual may still be in the intake process, may have been transferred, or may have been released.
Jail Roster Updates and Search Limitations in Bernalillo
The MDC Custody List is updated on a regular basis, but it is not instantaneous. There can be a delay between the time someone is booked into the facility and when their record appears on the online list. Processing — which includes identification verification, medical screening, and charge entry — can take several hours.
Key limitations to be aware of:
- Processing delays: A newly arrested individual may not appear on the custody list for several hours after arrival at MDC.
- Released inmates: Once someone is released from custody, their record is typically removed from the list. The roster reflects current custody status only — it is not an archive of all past bookings.
- Transfers: If an inmate is transferred to a state correctional facility, they will no longer appear on the county roster. Use the New Mexico Corrections Department Offender Search for individuals serving state sentences.
- Data entry lags: Charge information or booking details may be updated after the initial record appears, so checking back later can sometimes provide more complete information.
- No historical archive: The online custody list does not function as a searchable database of past inmates. For older records, submit a public records request to MDC or the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office under IPRA.
For court-related records tied to a booking — such as case filings, hearing schedules, or dispositions — use the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court public records portal or the statewide Case Lookup system.