Sandoval County, established in 1903, was named after the prominent Sandoval family. It has a population of 148,000 residents and covers an area of 3,714 square miles. Located in north-central New Mexico, Sandoval County has its seat in Bernalillo.

Courts in Sandoval County

Sandoval County judiciary comprises District, Magistrate, Probate, and Municipal Courts. The 13th Judicial District Court serves Sandoval County and has jurisdiction over all criminal and civil cases. The court presides over felonies, misdemeanors, and preliminary hearings for all criminal cases. Civil cases heard by the District Courts include civil claims for disputes above $10,000. The District Court also has the authority to preside over domestic relations, juvenile delinquency, mental health, and domestic violence cases. The District Court has a Children’s Division that hears cases involving minors, such as child abuse, adoption,  juvenile delinquency, and child neglect.

The Magistrate Court in Sandoval has limited jurisdiction over criminal and civil cases. The court deals with misdemeanors, petty misdemeanors, county ordinance violations, and civil disputes for claims under $10,000.

The Probate Court adjudicates matters involving the estates of the deceased. It has limited jurisdiction to hear lawsuits, determine heirship of real property, and appoint guardians for minors.

The Municipal Court hears cases involving violations of municipal ordinances, including driving under the influence, minor criminal offenses, code enforcement issues, and traffic violations.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Sandoval County

Public court records are documents, papers, and information from judicial proceedings open to the public for viewing and copying. Interested persons can utilize Case Lookup for electronic access to public court records. Record seekers may also visit the courthouse or mail requests for public court records.

Types of Public Court Records in Sandoval County

Access to public court records builds public confidence in the county’s judiciary system. The following types of court records are publicly accessible in Sandoval County:

•  Criminal Court Records: Felonies and misdemeanors
• Civil Court Records: Property disputes, evictions, product liability, business litigations, and personal injury claims
• Probate Records: Guardianships, wills, trusts, estates, and conservatorships
• Family Law Records: Annulment, marriage dissolution, divorce, child custody, and child and spousal support
• Traffic Records: Hit and run, speeding violation, stoop scion violation, driving with suspended licenses, and school zone violations

Confidential Court Records in Sandoval County

Confidential court records in Sandoval County refer to information and documents closed to the public. Confidential records contain sensitive information, sealed to protect the individual named on the records. Some confidential court records in Sandoval County include:

• Grand jury proceedings
• Mental health commitment records
• Substance abuse treatment records
• Juvenile court records
• Passport numbers

Public court records contain private information which is confidential and exempted from public view. Personal data are removed from public court records to prevent misuse of personal information. Personal identifiers redacted from court records include:

• Social Security numbers
• Health Insurance identification numbers
• Bank account and credit card numbers
• Vehicle plate numbers
• Birthdates, residential address,  and phone numbers

Juvenile Delinquency in Sandoval, NM

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Sandoval 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 774 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Sandoval County. Of that total, 87% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 672 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.

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

Government of Sandoval County, NM

http://www.newmexico.gov/

County Seat:	Bernalillo
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Dillon's Rule
Year Organized:	1903
Total Square Miles:	3,716
2019 Population:	142,507
Persons/Square Mile:	0.03
County Contact:	PO BOX 40 County Courthouse Bernalillo , NM 87004-0040 http://www.sandovalcountynm.gov/

Sandoval County, NM Courts