Chaves County is the fourth-largest county in New Mexico by size, and the City of Roswell is its county seat. It covers 6,071 square miles of the southeastern region of the state. As of 2020, 65,157 individuals resided in the county.

Courts in Chaves County

Chaves County is one of the counties comprising the Fifth Judicial District Court in New Mexico. The District Court hears criminal cases and civil cases in which the amount in dispute is over $10,000. It also handles cases concerning divorces, child support, guardianships, domestic relations, domestic violence, juvenile delinquency, probate matters, and protection orders.

The Magistrate Court in Chaves County has jurisdiction over cases concerning landlords and tenants, traffic violations, misdemeanor criminal cases, and civil matters in which the amount in dispute is less than $10,000.

The Probate Court conducts informal probate proceedings regarding wills, estates, and heirships of decedents’ properties.

Chaves County Municipal Courts have jurisdiction over all municipal ordinance violations, animal control violations, traffic violations, petty misdemeanors, and DUIs.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Chaves County

Individuals can find public court records in Chaves County at the County Clerk's Office. The Clerk is responsible for maintaining court records and providing them publicly. Individuals can look up court records in Chaves County online or search/obtain copies of the needed information or documents at the Clerk's Office.

Types of Public Court Records in Chaves County

The types of court records that can be publicly inspected in Chaves County include:

• Civil Court Records - case information of non-criminal proceedings concerning personal injury, landlord/tenant issues, and breaches of contract
• Criminal Court Records - including case files/documents, charges, decisions, and dockets of misdemeanor and felony criminal cases
• Small Claims Court Records - information on minor civil disputes involving claims up to $10,000
• Traffic Court Records - including documents and citation details in traffic cases
• Municipal Court Records - including court information on Municipal Court cases like county ordinance violations and animal complaints

Confidential Court Records in Chaves County

Confidential court records in Chaves County are sealed by the court to comply with New Mexico laws or to prevent the disclosure of private information. Such records are inaccessible to the general public but may be available to individuals if the court permits them. Confidential court records in Chaves County are also available to the parties involved in the case or their attorneys.

The following court records are restricted from public access in New Mexico:

• Juvenile records
• Sealed criminal records
• Medical records
• Adoption records
• Mental health records
• Court records of proceedings for the appointment of guardians or conservators
• Personal identifier information in court records

Juvenile Delinquency in Chaves, NM

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Chaves County, juvenile delinquency crimes are on the rise. There are many reasons for the increase in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in New Mexico often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of offenses, and other family matters.

In 2017, a total of 650 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Chaves County. Of that total, 97% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 631 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.

A lot of counties, including, Chaves County, are focusing on family health and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Chaves County juvenile delinquency statistics will show whether or not this approach is working.

Government of Chaves County, NM

http://www.newmexico.gov/

County Seat:	Roswell
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Dillon's Rule
Year Organized:	1889
Total Square Miles:	6,075
2019 Population:	64,866
Persons/Square Mile:	0.09
County Contact:	1 Saint Marys Pl County Administration Center Roswell , NM 88203-5400 http://www.co.chaves.nm.us/

Chaves County, NM Courts