County Manager

IPRA: Inspection of Public Records Act

IPRA requests may be completed online, sent via email to IPRA@tcnm.us, or via U.S. Mail to the attention of the Records Custodian PO Box 48, Estancia, NM 87016. Forms can be found in the Quicklinks box above.

Pursuant to the NM Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA), every person has the right to inspect the public records of Torrance County. The Act also makes compliance with requests to inspect public records an integral part of the routine duties of the officers and employees of Torrance County as it is the responsibility of the county to make public records available for inspection.

A person desiring to inspect the County's public records may submit a request to Torrance County with the person's name, address, email address and telephone number. The request must also describe the records sought with reasonable particularity to enable the County's 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 fifteen (15) calendar days after the Records Custodian receives the IPRA request. If inspection is not permitted within three (3) 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 the IPRA request is excessively burdensome or broad, an additional reasonable period of time shall be allowed to comply with the request. The Records Custodian shall provide written notification to the requester within 15 days of receipt of the request that additional time will be needed to respond to the request.  

HELPFUL TIPS:

• Be as specific as possible regarding the records you are seeking and include as much information as possible, i.e. the date or date range, case or report numbers, property address, etc.
• If you have a request for TCSO or Emergency Services, please include the incident/accident location, date and case or CAD number in your request. 
• For marriage licenses, surveys and deeds, please go to the Clerk's homepage at: Torrance County Clerk

Public Notice of IPRA Rights

Section 14-2-7(E) requires every public body to post a public notice that informs the public of their right to inspect records, how to submit a request, a complete explanation of any fees that may be charged for physical copies, and any other relevant information to help facilitate the request and inspection of its records.

Notice of Right to Inspect Public Records

By law, under the Inspection of Public Records Act, every person has the right to inspect the public records of Torrance County. Compliance with requests to inspect public records is an integral part of the routine duties of the officers and employees of Torrance County.

Procedures for Requesting Inspection

Our office accepts records requests via mail, in-person, fax, and email to the contact information included below. Requests should be directed to the Records Custodian:

Deminica Garcia, CPO, CAPE
Legal Assistant IPRA

County Attorney’s Office
505-544-4707

IPRA@tcnm.us

A person desiring to inspect public records may submit a request to the 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 Records Custodian to identify and locate the requested records.

The Records Custodian must permit inspection immediately or as soon as practicable, but not 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 the 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.

Procedures for Requesting Physical Copies and Fees

There is no fee for records produced electronically. However, if a person requesting inspection would like a physical copy of a public record, a reasonable fee will be charged. The fee for printed documents 8.5 inches by 11 inches or smaller is   $1.00 per page. The fee for larger documents is $1.00    per page. The fee for a flash drive is the actual cost of the flash drive. 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 will be provided upon request to the person requesting the copies.

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