New Mexico · Criminal & Records
The New Mexico Criminal Law Guide
Understand New Mexico's criminal charges, felony degrees, sentencing enhancements, and the step-by-step court process from arrest to resolution.
2026-2027 Edition · Cited to New Mexico law · Plain language
Paperback · $19.99
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Cited to the statute · Legal information, not legal advice
Understand New Mexico criminal charges, from arrest to sentencing
Felony degrees and basic sentences, habitual offender enhancements, conditional discharge, and how pretrial release works in New Mexico.
ABOUT THIS BOOK
An arrest in New Mexico starts a process with its own rules, deadlines, and courts. For the person charged and for the family trying to help, the terms alone can be hard to follow.
The New Mexico Criminal Law Guide explains the state's criminal justice system in plain language. It covers how the Criminal Code in Chapter 30 NMSA sorts offenses into petty misdemeanors, misdemeanors, and five felony classes, and how each felony degree carries a basic sentence under § 31-18-15, from 18 months for a fourth-degree felony to 18 years for a first-degree felony.
The guide walks through each stage of a case, from arrest and first appearance to the preliminary examination or grand jury indictment, arraignment in District Court, plea negotiations, trial, and sentencing. It explains New Mexico's pretrial release system, which holds that a person cannot be detained solely because they cannot afford a bond.
Inside, readers will find:
• The habitual offender enhancement of one, four, or eight added years
• Who may qualify for a conditional discharge under § 31-20-13
• The 90-day window for a motion to reduce sentence under Rule 5-801
• Expungement waiting periods and restoration of voting rights
• Separate checklists for the accused person and for family members
Legal information, not legal advice.
WHAT’S INSIDE
- Classifying Crimes: From Petty Misdemeanors to Capital Felonies
- The Consequences: Sentencing and Enhancements
- Alternatives to Conviction and Incarceration
- Common Defenses and Legal Exceptions
- Rights and Roles of a Family Member or Supporter
- Penalties, Sentencing, and Potential Remedies
- Step-by-step procedures from each side, with deadlines at a glance
- 22 real-world questions and answers
- Statute index, key court decisions and official forms
- Toolkit: checklists, comparison tables, glossary and common mistakes to avoid
WHY READERS TRUST THIS GUIDE
Plain language. Cited to the statute. Dated so you know it is current.
Every rule is cited to New Mexico law so you can verify it.
Cited, so you can check it
Every rule names the section of New Mexico law it comes from, so you can read the source yourself.
Plain language, no filler
Written to be read start to finish by someone with no legal training, with worked examples.
Dated and updated
Each guide carries a law-current date and new editions ship when the law changes.
Bonus toolkit
Register your book for this topic’s checklists, worksheets and starter template, as soon as they are ready.
QUESTIONS BEFORE YOU BUY
New Mexico criminal charges: what to know before you order.
Straight answers about what the guide is, what it covers and how it reaches you.
What are the basic sentences for felonies in New Mexico?
Under § 31-18-15, the basic sentence is 18 months for a fourth-degree felony, 3 years for third degree, 9 years for second degree, and 18 years for first degree. The guide explains how judges can adjust them.
What is a conditional discharge in New Mexico?
It is a sentencing option under § 31-20-13 that places an eligible person on probation without entering a judgment of guilt. The guide explains who qualifies and its limits, including that it is not available for DWI.
Is this legal advice?
No. It is legal information in plain language, cited to the law, so you understand your options and know what to ask. Reading it creates no attorney-client relationship.
Is it written for New Mexico?
Yes. This guide is written for New Mexico law and cites the New Mexico statutes and rules it relies on. If your case is in another state, choose that state's edition.
KEEP GOING
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PLEASE READ
Legal information, not legal advice. STACKED LEGAL® is a publisher, not a law firm. Buying or reading this book creates no attorney-client relationship and promises no outcome. Laws change; verify current law and talk to a licensed attorney in New Mexico about your situation.
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