Situated in the southern part of New Mexico, Dona Ana County is the second-most populous county in the state. As of the 2020 census, it had an estimated population of 219,561 residents and a median household income of $51,967. Las Cruces City is both the county’s seat and largest city.

Courts in Dona Ana County

Dona Ana County is part of the Third Judicial District of New Mexico. It is home to a District Court, Magistrate Court, Probate Court, and Municipal Courts.

The Dona Ana District Court hears all civil matters in which the plaintiff claims an amount exceeding $10,000. It also has jurisdiction over a range of criminal matters, including felonies and misdemeanors. Family matters, including cases on divorce, child support, child custody, and domestic violence, are all within the jurisdiction of the court. Likewise, the court also hears all probate matters such as cases on wills, trusts, guardianships and conservatorships, and administration of a deceased estate. Delinquency, dependency, and other juvenile matters also fall within the jurisdiction of the District Court.

The Magistrates Courts in Dona Ana County handle misdemeanors, county ordinance violations, and traffic cases. They also conduct preliminary hearings for felony cases. The civil jurisdiction of the Magistrate Courts is limited to claims involving $10,000 or less.

The Dona Ana County Probate Court hears informal probate cases, including uncontested probate matters and appointment of personal representatives.

Furthermore, Municipal Courts exercise jurisdiction over limited matters within cities in the county. They hear cases on petty misdemeanors, DUIs, and municipal ordinance violations.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Dona Ana County

Dona Ana County courts have clerks or records departments that maintain records of their cases. Interested persons can access these records by contacting the relevant courthouse.

To request records of the District and Magistrate Courts, complete the online request form. These records and those of the Municipal Courts are available online on New Mexico case lookup and the Odyssey public access portal. For records of the Probate Court contact the Dona Ana County Clerk or use the official records search portal.

Types of Public Court Records in Dona Ana County

Court records are materials and documents containing information about court cases. They include:

• Case filings
• Dockets
• Pleadings
• Orders and judgments
• Transcripts and recordings

Records of Dona Ana County courts are generally open to the public unless they are protected by law.

Confidential Court Records in Dona Ana County

A Dona Ana County court record becomes confidential when a law or court order prevents public access to it. Examples of confidential court records in the county are:

• Juvenile records
• Records of adoption proceedings
• Trade secrets
• Probation records

Juvenile Delinquency in Dona Ana, NM

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

In 2017, a total of 1276 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Dona Ana County. Of that total, 83% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 1064 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.

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

Dona Ana County, NM Courts