A. A state or local law enforcement officer shall comply when reasonably able to do so with the following procedures when conducting a custodial interrogation:
- (1) the custodial interrogation shall be electronically recorded in its entirety;
- (2) if conducted in a police station, the custodial interrogation shall be electronically recorded by a method that includes audio or visual or both, if available; and
- (3) the electronic recording shall include the advice of constitutional rights required by law.
B. A law enforcement officer shall comply with the provisions of this section unless the law enforcement officer has good cause not to electronically record the entire custodial interrogation and makes a contemporaneous written or electronic record of the reasons for not doing so. Good cause includes:
- (1) the electronic recording equipment was not reasonably available;
- (2) the electronic recording equipment failed and obtaining replacement equipment was not feasible;
- (3) the individual refused to be recorded; or
- (4) the statement was made in a court proceeding or a grand jury proceeding.
- C. Statements that are spontaneously volunteered and not the result of custodial interrogation are not subject to the provisions of this section.
- D. The provisions of this section shall apply only to custodial interrogations when, at the time of the interrogation, the person is suspected of committing a felony offense.
- E. The provisions of this section do not apply to custodial interrogations conducted outside the state of New Mexico.
- F. The provisions of this section do not apply to statements used for impeachment purposes.
- G. The provisions of this section do not apply within a correctional facility.
H. As used in this section:
- (1) "custodial interrogation" means questioning by law enforcement officers that requires the advice of constitutional rights; and
- (2) "electronic recording" means a complete and authentic electronic recording created by visual or audio media, including by motion picture, videotape, audio tape or digital media.
- I. This section shall not be construed to exclude otherwise admissible evidence in any judicial proceeding.
History: Laws 2005, ch. 252, § 1.
ANNOTATIONS
Effective dates. — Laws 2005, ch. 252, § 3 made Laws 2005, ch. 252, § 1 effective January 1, 2006.
Severability. — Laws 2005, ch. 252, § 2 provided that if any part of Laws 2005, ch. 252, § 1 is held invalid, the remainder shall not be affected.
Law not retroactive. — Where defendant made statements to police officers at an interview that occurred on May 31, 2005, and Laws 2005, Chapter 252, Section 3 made Section 29-1-16 NMSA 1978 effective on January 1, 2006, Section 29-1-16 NMSA 1978 did not apply to defendant's statements. State v. Garcia, 2011-NMSC-003, 149 N.M. 185, 246 P.3d 1057.