Q. Who enforces the FOIA [in New Mexico]? To what address do you send a second request? Can a sheriff's office and district attorney ignore it?
A. Access to records maintained by state and local agencies in New Mexico is governed by the Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA). Under the IPRA, executive branch agencies (such as a sheriff's office or local District Attorney's office) have fifteen days to respond to a request for records. There is no formal administrative appeal procedure. An individual whose request is denied or who does not receive a timely response may commence a lawsuit in court. The State of New Mexico's Office of the Attorney General is provided authority through the state constitution to enforce the IPRA, as are local District Attorneys. For your convenience, here is a link to an IPRA compliance guide authored by the Office of the Attorney General. For further information, you may contact the Civil Division of the Office of the Attorney General at (505) 827-6070.