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Who Investigates New Mexico Jail Deaths?

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In New Mexico, investigation of county jail deaths involves multiple agencies. The primary agency responsible for determining the cause and manner of such deaths is the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator (OMI). The OMI is a centralized, statewide medical examiner agency, part of the University of New Mexico School of Medicine. Its team of board-certified forensic pathologists conducts approximately 2,000 autopsies annually and play an important role in over 10,000 death investigations each year.

When a county jail death occurs, the OMI is notified to perform an autopsy and ascertain the cause and manner of death. This process is crucial for transparency and for providing answers to the deceased’s family and the public. In addition to the OMI’s involvement, local law enforcement agencies, such as the involved county sheriff’s office, often conduct parallel investigations to examine the circumstances surrounding the death. These collaborative efforts between the OMI and local law enforcement help to ensure that all aspects of jail deaths are properly investigated.

Here is contact Information for the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator:

  • Physical Address: 1101 Camino de Salud NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102
  • Mailing Address: MSC07 4040, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001
  • Phone: 505-272-3053
  • Website: https://omi.unm.edu/

For inquiries related to specific incidents or general information, contacting the OMI directly via the provided phone number or visiting their official website is recommended.  If your family member died in a county jail, and you suspect wrongdoing, you might also contact a qualified jail wrongful death attorney.

Written By: author avatar Dean Malone
author avatar Dean Malone
Dean Malone is the founder of Law Offices of Dean Malone, P.C., a jail neglect civil rights law firm. Mr. Malone earned his bachelor's degree at the University of Texas at Dallas, graduating summa cum laude with a 4.0 GPA, and from Baylor University School of Law with a general civil litigation concentration. Mr. Malone served in several staff positions for the Baylor Law Review, including executive editor. Mr. Malone is an experienced trial lawyer, trying a number of cases to jury verdict and also handling arbitrations through final hearing. He heads the jail neglect section of his law firm, in which lawyers litigate cases involving serious injury and death resulting from jail neglect and abuse. Lawyers frequently refer cases to Mr. Malone due to his focus on this very complicated civil rights practice area.