Like in most other parts of NM, the magistrate’s court is a good starting point for an arrest warrant search in Lea County. The judiciary has been granted the powers to issue orders for arrests. These directives come in two forms, those that involve local law enforcement in their issue process and ones that are issued without any interference from the police.
While the former is legally termed as active warrants, the latter is known as bench warrants, and the difference lies in more than the process used for the release of these decrees. Outstanding warrants from Lea County offer a host of powers to the arresting officers. From entering private properties to giving chase to an absconding offender outside the issuing county, all of these and more are valid when the officer is acting under warrants for arrests.
In contrast, bench warrants may appear tame because these can only be served within the 6 am to 10 pm block. Also, these orders are only valid within the bounds of the county in which they were released. Finally, it should be stated that arrest warrants stay in effect perpetually while bench orders lapse after a few months.
When you approach the police or the magistrate’s court, you will be given information on all types of detention directives and arrest records. The same can also be sought from the clerk of the court’s department. This advantage of approaching the county clerk’s office is to get a cumulative civil-criminal background report from this agency. To connect with the police or the judiciary, go to:
- The police: 215 E Central, Lovington, New Mexico 88260
- The county clerk: PO Box 1507, Lovington, New Mexico 88260
- The court of the magistrate: 100 N Main Ave, Lovington, NM 88260
- Offender watch service: http://www.icrimewatch.net/index.php?AgencyID=54895&disc=
Is there any way to get information about Lea County active warrants and arrests over the phone? (2021-Update)
- Recent arrests: Lea County Jail-(575) 396-8668/ (575) 394-2121.
- Arrest Records/Incident Reports/Accident Reports: Sheriff’s Office-(575) 396-3611.
- Warrants-related questions: Magistrate’s Court- (575) 395-2740/(575) 396-6677/(575) 394-3368/(575) 397-3621.
- Victim support and information: Lea County Attorney’s Office-(575) 397-2471.
- Criminal case records: Clerk of Court- (575) 396-8571.
Crime statistics of Lea County
Almost 400 criminal complaints were filed by the Lea Sheriff’s Department in 2019, compared to the 322 crimes reported in 2018. The figure included 342 property offenses and 60 crimes against people. The following crimes were reported:
- 160 larceny thefts
- 112 burglaries
- 70 motor vehicle thefts
- 47 aggravated assaults
- 4 rapes, and
- 5 robberies
Over 2500 criminal complaints find their way to the police’s office in Lea County, New Mexico. Of these cases, only about 12% are lodged against violent instances of crime. Also, this crime category has shown a drop of 5% in the last couple of years.