A. Every public officer who has power to order the imprisonment of any person for violation of law shall, on making such order, transmit to the sheriff, jail administrator or independent contractor of his respective county a true copy of the order so that the person imprisoned may be considered under his custody until expiration of the commitment or until further steps, as provided by law, are taken to obtain the prisoner's liberty, of which he shall, in due time, notify the sheriff, jail administrator or independent contractor in writing.
B. Any jailer who deliberately and knowingly releases a prisoner without an order of release as provided in this section, except upon expiration of the prisoner's term of commitment, is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be removed from office.
History: Laws 1863-1864, p. 96; C.L. 1865, ch. 92, § 22; C.L. 1884, § 484; C.L. 1897, § 835; Code 1915, § 3048; C.S. 1929, § 75-116; 1941 Comp., § 45-210; 1953 Comp., § 42-2-10; Laws 1968, ch. 62, § 155; 1983, ch. 181, § 12; 1984, ch. 18, § 2; 1984, ch. 22, § 12.
Cross references. — For the definition of jail administrator, see 4-44-19 NMSA 1978.
Responsibility for expenses and upkeep of prisoners. — A county becomes responsible for paying the expenses and upkeep of prisoners arrested by municipal police on state charges at such times as the prisoners are delivered to the actual custody of the county jail, along with any necessary paperwork; a county becomes responsible for medical costs of indigent prisoners at the same time and in the same circumstances. 1985 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 85-03.
Am. Jur. 2d, A.L.R. and C.J.S. references. — 72 C.J.S. Prisons and Rights of Prisoners § 155.
Structure New Mexico Statutes
Chapter 33 - Correctional Institutions
Section 33-3-1 - Common jails; operation by sheriff, jail administrator or independent contractor.
Section 33-3-3 - Confinement of prisoners in county where offense committed.
Section 33-3-4 - Inspection of jails and detention centers; report.
Section 33-3-5 - Cleanliness and feeding prisoners.
Section 33-3-6 - Food for prisoners.
Section 33-3-7 - Record of prisoners; escapes.
Section 33-3-8 - Rules for punishment.
Section 33-3-9 - County jails; deduction of time for good behavior.
Section 33-3-11 - Jail for nonpayment of fine.
Section 33-3-12 - Commitments to be furnished; orders of release; penalty.
Section 33-3-13 - Prisoners waiting [awaiting] trial; confinement in county jail.
Section 33-3-16 - United States prisoners.
Section 33-3-18 - Counties without jails; arrangements with other counties.
Section 33-3-19 - Prisoners in jails; work.
Section 33-3-21 - Commitments by magistrates; confinement in town jail.
Section 33-3-22 - Town or village jails.
Section 33-3-23 - Confinement of prisoners committed by Indian government; cost.
Section 33-3-24 - Prisoner-release program.
Section 33-3-25 - Local government corrections fund created; administration; distribution.
Section 33-3-26 - Agreements for jails or for jail services; pilot programs.
Section 33-3-27 - Jail agreements; approval; liability; termination; venue.