The New Mexico Department of Public Safety (NMDPS) continues its overview of internal divisions, focusing this time on the Technical Support Division. This division includes the Forensic Laboratory Bureau and the Law Enforcement Records Bureau, which also oversees the Missing Persons Clearinghouse.
The Forensic Laboratory Bureau provides forensic analysis services to almost 300 law enforcement agencies throughout New Mexico at no cost. The bureau operates three laboratories in Santa Fe, Hobbs, and Las Cruces, where scientists offer forensic expertise to assist with court cases. The bureau’s work covers several areas: DNA and biology for identifying individuals, analysis of controlled substances, firearms and toolmark identification, and latent print development and comparison.
According to the bureau, “Trusted. Accurate. Unbiased. From crime scene to courthouse, we apply science in the forensic laboratory with integrity to keep New Mexico safe.”
The Law Enforcement Records Bureau manages several responsibilities. It operates the Missing Persons Clearinghouse, which keeps the public informed about active missing persons cases through its website and coordinates with federal, state, tribal, and local law enforcement agencies as well as the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. The bureau also issues Amber, Silver, Brittany, Turquoise, and Missing Endangered alerts.
“A person can be reported missing at any time, regardless of age, when their safety is believed to be at risk. Timely alerts. Accurate information. Lifesaving action,” states the bureau.
Additionally, the Law Enforcement Records Bureau oversees units responsible for sex offender registration, concealed carry permits, the National Crime Information Center records, processing more than 15,000 Inspection of Public Records Act requests annually, expungement requests, and automated fingerprinting information systems.
