Search Arrest, Mugshot & Inmate Records by Name
Search by name and state for arrest, booking, mugshot, inmate, jail roster, prison, criminal and court-record search categories.
Independent records-search resource. This website is not a government agency, police department, sheriff's office, jail, prison or courthouse. Search coverage varies by source and jurisdiction. Some links may lead to third-party services, and compensation may be received when a partner service is used.
Find a Bernalillo County Inmate in the MDC Custody List
For a Bernalillo jail inmate search, start with the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center, usually called MDC. The county provides separate public tools for people currently in custody, recent releases and recent bookings, so choosing the right list can save time.
Fastest route: use the MDC Custody List for someone believed to be in jail now. Search by arrest date, inmate ID, first name or last name. The official interface accepts partial inmate IDs and partial names, and you can also submit the search without filters to display the custody list.
Albuquerque, NM 87151
Information reviewed October 27, 2026. Custody, holds, bond and release information can change after booking or court action.
How to Search the Bernalillo County MDC Roster
The public roster is maintained through Bernalillo County’s Metropolitan Detention Center system. You do not need to begin with a paid background-search website.
- Open the official MDC Custody List. Use the county-hosted custody link above. If a security verification or terms page appears, complete it and continue to the search form.
- Start with the last name. Partial first and last names are accepted, which is useful for hyphenated names, two-part surnames or uncertain spellings.
- Add another field only when needed. You can narrow the search with first name, inmate ID or arrest date. The inmate ID field accepts partial numeric entries.
- Run the search. The county interface also allows a search with no filters to display the custody list.
- Open the correct result. Click the inmate’s name, booking number or inmate ID to reach the detailed custody record.
- Verify more than the name. Compare the Person ID, booking number, booking date, year of birth or age, arrest information and case numbers before assuming two similar names refer to the same person.
- Save the identifiers. Record the Person ID and booking number before checking court, bond, release or other inmate services.
For a broader explanation of how county custody systems differ nationwide, see our county jail inmate search and roster guide.
Choose the Right Bernalillo County Inmate List
Bernalillo County uses three different MDC views. They answer different questions, and using the wrong one is a common reason people think a record is missing.
| Official MDC tool | Use it when | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Custody List | You want to know whether someone is currently shown in MDC custody. | Searchable current-custody records with booking and case details. |
| Release List | The person was recently in MDC but no longer appears in the active custody search. | People released from Bernalillo County custody during approximately the previous two weeks. |
| Arrest List | The arrest happened very recently and you want to check booking activity. | Today’s arrests are displayed by default; another booking date from the previous week can be selected. |
Important: a recent-arrest entry is not the same thing as current custody. A person may appear in the arrest list and later be released, transferred or otherwise removed from active custody.
What the MDC Inmate Record Can Show
Once you open a matching record, the MDC detail page can contain substantially more information than the first search result. Fields vary by booking, and some can be blank.
| Roster field | What it helps you understand |
|---|---|
| Person ID | Identifies the person in the MDC system and is useful when names are similar. |
| Booking number | Identifies the jail booking you are reviewing. |
| Booking date | Shows when that booking was recorded. |
| YOB / age | Helps distinguish people with similar names. |
| Active Holds | Shows whether the public record currently lists an active hold. |
| Housing | May show a current MDC housing assignment when the field is populated. |
| Admission details | Can show the admission date and time. |
| Arrests | May include case number, arresting agency, date/time and arrest location. |
| Charges | Can show case number, count, statute and charge description. A listed charge is an allegation, not a conviction. |
| Warrants | May display warrant-related case numbers and descriptions connected with the booking. |
| Bail details | Can include bail type, amount, paid date, release type, release date and judge when those fields are available. |
The county’s custody-system terms state that the information is provided for reference and that users are responsible for confirming accuracy. Recheck anything important immediately before paying a bond, traveling to MDC or arranging transportation for a release.
If the Bernalillo Jail Inmate Search Returns No Result
A blank search is not enough to conclude that the person was never arrested. Work through the following sequence:
- Reduce the search fields. Try the last name alone or a partial spelling.
- Check the Arrest List. A very recent booking may be easier to identify there.
- Check the Release List. If the person left MDC recently, the current-custody search may no longer be the right list.
- Confirm the jurisdiction. Make sure the arrest actually occurred in Bernalillo County rather than the Town of Bernalillo or another neighboring jurisdiction.
- Check state custody when appropriate. If the person has moved to a New Mexico state prison, use the New Mexico Corrections Department Offender Search. NMCD specifically notes that its system does not have jurisdiction over county or city detention facilities.
- Check the court case. If you know a case number or need hearing information rather than current jail status, use the statewide New Mexico Courts Case Lookup.
- Call MDC for urgent confirmation. The main number is 505-839-8700.
Local Detail That Prevents the Wrong Jail Search
The Town of Bernalillo is in Sandoval County. Sandoval County’s own government explains this historical naming issue. If someone was arrested in the Town of Bernalillo, Rio Rancho or another Sandoval County jurisdiction, do not assume the Albuquerque MDC roster is the correct search.
Open the official Sandoval County inmate search instead when that is the correct jurisdiction.
For an arrest in Albuquerque or another case routed into Bernalillo County’s Metropolitan Detention Center, use the MDC tools on this page.
How to Check the Court Case or Bond After Finding the Inmate
The jail roster tells you about custody. The court system is better for hearings, filed case activity and later case outcomes.
Check the New Mexico court case
- Copy the case number shown in the inmate’s Arrests, Charges, Warrants or Bail Details section.
- Open the New Mexico Courts Case Lookup.
- Accept the court’s terms if prompted.
- Search using the case number or available party information.
- Use the court record to verify hearings and case activity instead of treating the jail charge description as the final disposition.
Metropolitan Court in-custody bonding
For qualifying Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court matters, the court publishes an in-custody bonding service at 401 Lomas Blvd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102.
| Bonding option | Published hours reviewed Oct. 27, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Customer Service in-custody bonding window | Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. |
| External walk-up bonding window | Monday–Friday, 5:00 p.m.–10:30 p.m.; Saturday–Sunday, 7:00 a.m.–10:30 p.m. |
The court’s current bonding instructions say to bring the name of the person in custody, valid government identification and the required bond payment. Before traveling, confirm the bond and current instructions through Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court bonding or call 505-841-8151.
A posted bond does not mean the person will walk out of MDC immediately. Jail release processing can continue after the court sends the release paperwork, so recheck custody before arranging pickup.
What to Save Before Leaving the Inmate Record
Once you find the correct person, save the information you may need for the next task:
Person ID
Year of birth / age
Booking date
Admission date/time
Listed charges
Warrants or holds
This information makes later calls to MDC or court staff much easier and reduces the chance of confusing two people with similar names.
For current visitation, communication, mail, deposit or facility-service instructions, return to the official Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center page after you have the correct inmate identifiers. Those operational rules can change more often than the basic custody-search process.
Responsible Use of Jail Information
An MDC booking, arrest entry, warrant listing or charge does not establish guilt. Charges may later be amended, dismissed or resolved differently in court. A jail roster is also not a complete criminal-history report.
Our sources and verification policy explains why official jail and court systems are prioritized. Also review our Disclaimer & FCRA Notice before using custody information for any consequential purpose.
Bernalillo County Jail Inmate Search FAQs
1. How do I search for a current Bernalillo County inmate?
Open the official MDC Custody List, search by arrest date, inmate ID, first name or last name, and open the matching name, booking number or inmate ID. Compare multiple identifiers before deciding you found the correct person.
2. What is the official Bernalillo County jail roster?
The relevant local custody system is the Metropolitan Detention Center Custody List operated for Bernalillo County. MDC also provides separate Release List and Arrest List pages.
3. Can I search the MDC roster with only a name?
Yes. The custody search accepts first and last names, including partial names. Starting with the last name alone can be useful if you are unsure how the full booking name was entered.
4. What information can an MDC inmate record show?
A record can show Person ID, booking number, booking date, year of birth or age, active holds, housing, admission details, arrests, charges, warrants and bail or release details when those fields are available.
5. How do I find someone recently released from Bernalillo County MDC?
Use the official MDC Release List. It is designed to show Bernalillo County inmates released during approximately the previous two weeks.
6. How do I find a recent Bernalillo County arrest?
Use the MDC Arrest List. It displays arrests for the current date by default and allows another booking date from the previous week to be selected.
7. Why can I not find someone in the Bernalillo County inmate search?
Try fewer search fields, check spelling, review the recent Arrest List and Release List, confirm the correct county, and check state custody if a transfer occurred. Call MDC at 505-839-8700 when current custody needs immediate confirmation.
8. Where do I check a Bernalillo County inmate’s court case or bond?
Use the case number from the MDC record in the New Mexico Courts Case Lookup. For qualifying Metropolitan Court in-custody bonds, confirm the current bond and payment instructions with Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court before paying.
9. Is the Town of Bernalillo in Bernalillo County?
No. The Town of Bernalillo is in Sandoval County. If the arrest occurred in the Town of Bernalillo, use Sandoval County’s detention-center inmate search rather than automatically searching Albuquerque’s MDC.
10. Does the Bernalillo County MDC roster always show a mugshot?
Do not rely on a booking photo being available for every public record. The MDC detail layout provides identifiers and custody or case information that can be used to verify a person even when a photo is not displayed.
Official Resources for Final Verification
- Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center
- MDC Custody List
- MDC Release List
- MDC Arrest List
- New Mexico Courts Case Lookup
- Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court Bonding
- New Mexico Corrections Department Offender Search
- Sandoval County Inmate Search — use when the arrest is actually in the Town of Bernalillo or another Sandoval County jurisdiction.
Bottom line: use the MDC Custody List for present Bernalillo County jail custody, the Release List for a recent release, the Arrest List for a recent booking, and the New Mexico court system when you need the legal case rather than the jail status.