INSPECTION OF PUBLIC RECORDS ACT

 

The Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA) provides the public with access to information about governmental affairs. The law requires public access to most public records with a few exceptions.

 

A person desiring to inspect public records may submit a request to the IPRA Records Custodian orally or in writing. However, the procedures and penalties prescribed by the Act apply only to written requests.

 

A written request must contain the name, address, and telephone number of the person making the request.

 

The request must describe the records sought in sufficient detail to enable the IPRA Records Custodian to identify and locate the requested records 

 

The  records  custodian  must  permit inspection immediately  or  as  soon  as  practicable,  but  no  later  than 15 calendar days after the records custodian receives the inspection request. If inspection is not permitted within three business days, the person making the request will receive a written response explaining when the records will be available for inspection or when the public body will respond to the request. If any of the records sought are not available for public inspection, the person making the request is entitled to a written response from the records custodian explaining the reasons inspection has been denied. The written denial shall be delivered or mailed within 15 calendar days after the records custodian receives the request for inspection.

 

To Request Inspection:

Requests to inspect public records held by the 13th Judicial District Attorney should be submitted to the Records Custodian located at 711 Camino Del Pueblo Sur, Bernalillo, NM 87004, Phone 505-771-7439 or 13thDAIPRA@da.state.nm.us

 

The right to inspect applies to any nonexempt public record that exists at the time of the request. A records custodian or public body is not required to compile information from the public body’s records or otherwise create a new public record in response to a request.

 

Procedures for Requesting Copies and Fees:

If a person requesting inspection would like a copy of a public record, a reasonable fee may be charged.

For records that are delivered by email there will be no charge.

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In most cases we deliver records digitally via email and OneDrive.

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The records custodian may request that applicable fees for copying public records be paid in advance before the copies are made. A receipt indicating that the fees have been paid for copies of public records will be provided to the person requesting the copies.