Search Colorado Jail Roster
Colorado jail rosters list inmates held in county jails and state prisons across all 64 counties. You can search these rosters online through county sheriff websites, the Colorado Department of Corrections, or the VINE notification system to find current inmates and booking details.
Colorado Jail Roster Quick Facts
Where to Find Colorado Jail Rosters
Each county jail in Colorado keeps a daily roster of all inmates. Under C.R.S. § 17-26-118, county jail keepers must maintain public records showing the name, date of entrance, date of birth, race, ethnicity, gender, criminal charges, jurisdiction, sentence term, bond amount, and release date for each confined inmate. This information must be available to the public at all reasonable hours. Most counties post these rosters online so you can search from home any time.
The Colorado Department of Corrections runs a separate database for state prison inmates. This system covers people serving sentences in CDOC facilities, not county jails. You can search by DOC number, last name, first name, or gender to find inmates in state custody. The portal updates regularly and shows current location and status for each offender. Visit the CDOC Offender Search at the link shown in the image below to start a search.
Note: County jails and state prisons use different systems. Always check both if you cannot find an inmate in one database.
How to Search Jail Rosters in Colorado
Most Colorado counties offer online inmate lookup tools on their sheriff or jail websites. These tools let you search by last name, first name, booking date, or case number. Results typically show booking date, charges, bond amount, and expected release date. Some counties update their rosters every 15 minutes while others update once or twice per day. Each county runs its own system, so search methods vary.
To search for an inmate at a county jail, go to the county sheriff website. Look for a link that says "Inmate Search," "Jail Roster," or "Who's in Jail." Type in the person's last name and first name. The system will show all matches. If you know the booking number or date, use those to narrow results. Most county jail rosters show only current inmates. If someone was released, you may need to call the jail directly to get past records.
For state prison inmates, use the CDOC Offender Search at the Colorado Department of Corrections website. You can search by DOC number if you have it. If not, use the person's name. The system searches all CDOC facilities at once. Results show the inmate's current location, sentence length, and parole board status. This database covers only state prison inmates, not county jail inmates.
VINE is another tool for tracking inmates in Colorado. VINE stands for Victim Information and Notification Everyday. It tracks custody status across county jails and state prisons. You can search by name to see if someone is in custody. VINE also lets you register for alerts. When an inmate is released, transferred, or escapes, VINE sends a notification by phone, email, or text. Visit vinelink.com to use this free service.
What Information is in a Jail Roster
Colorado law requires county jails to keep detailed records for each inmate. These records must include specific data points. The roster shows the inmate's full legal name as it appears on their ID. It lists the date they entered the jail and their date of birth. The roster also notes race, ethnicity, and gender. Criminal charges are listed along with the jurisdiction that filed each charge. If the inmate is sentenced, the roster shows the term length. If bond has been set, the roster shows the amount. When an inmate is released, the roster shows the release date.
Many county jail rosters also show booking photos, sometimes called mugshots. These photos help identify the inmate. Some rosters list physical descriptors like height, weight, hair color, and eye color. The roster may show the housing unit where the inmate is held. It might list whether the inmate is in general population, protective custody, or medical housing. Not all counties show every detail online, but they must keep the full record on file.
Bond amounts vary widely based on the charges. Some inmates have no bond set, which means they cannot be released until their case is resolved. If the roster shows "NO BOND," the inmate is not eligible for release regardless of other charges. When an inmate has multiple charges, the roster lists each charge with its own bond amount. The total bond is the sum of all charges unless the judge has ordered concurrent bonds.
Jail rosters do not show criminal history beyond current charges. They do not list prior convictions or arrests. If you need a full criminal history, you must request a background check through the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. CBI maintains the state's central repository of arrest records based on fingerprints. This database is separate from jail rosters and requires a separate search process.
Colorado Jail Roster Laws and Rules
Colorado state law governs what information jails must keep and share. C.R.S. § 17-26-118 is the primary statute on county jail records. It states that the keeper of each jail facility shall keep and maintain a daily record of all confined inmates. This record must be available to the public at all reasonable hours. The statute lists nine specific data points that must be included: name, date of entrance, date of birth, race, ethnicity, gender, criminal charges and jurisdiction, sentence term if sentenced, bond amount if set, and release date.
The definition of "confined inmate" is broad under Colorado law. It includes inmates who are physically in the jail, in transit to or from a facility, appearing in court, held for other jurisdictions, in a hospital for treatment but would otherwise be in jail, in a work release program but return to jail at night, or in a community program but return to jail at night. All these individuals must appear in the jail's daily record.
Public access to jail records falls under the Colorado Open Records Act, known as CORA. C.R.S. § 24-72-204 outlines the rules for public records access. Under CORA, most government records are open for inspection unless a specific exemption applies. Jail rosters are generally considered open records because they document official actions by law enforcement. Citizens do not need to show cause or explain why they want to see jail records. Access is a right, not a privilege.
Some limits do apply. Juvenile inmate records are not public under C.R.S. § 19-1-304. Inmates under age 18 will not appear in public jail rosters. Medical and mental health records are also protected. The Colorado Criminal Justice Records Act covers arrest records and disposition records separately from jail rosters. Sealed records and expunged records are not available to the public. A person who has their record sealed by court order will not appear in public databases.
Each county may have additional policies on how they share jail roster information. Some counties update their online rosters in real time. Others update once or twice per day. A few smaller counties do not post rosters online at all. In those cases, you must call the jail or visit in person to check if someone is in custody. The law requires that the information be available at all reasonable hours, but it does not mandate online access.
Online Databases for Colorado Jail Rosters
The Colorado Department of Corrections operates the official state prison inmate locator. This database is free to use and requires no registration. Search by entering a last name, first name, DOC number, or gender. The system returns a list of matches with current custody status, facility location, and sentence information. The CDOC updates this database regularly to reflect transfers, releases, and new admissions. This tool covers state prisons only, not county jails.
VINE is a nationwide custody notification service that covers Colorado jails and prisons. Go to vinelink.com and select Colorado from the state menu. Enter the inmate's first and last name to search. VINE shows whether the person is in custody and at which facility. You can register for free notifications when custody status changes. VINE sends alerts by phone, email, or text message when an inmate is released, transferred, or escapes. This service is useful for victims and families who need to track custody status over time.
County sheriff websites are the main source for local jail rosters. Larger counties like Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Denver, El Paso, and Jefferson have sophisticated online search tools. These portals let you search by name, booking number, or date. Smaller counties may have basic lists instead of searchable databases. A few counties post PDF files with current inmates rather than live search tools. Each county designs its own system, so the user interface varies widely across the state.
The Colorado Judicial Branch operates a separate system for court dockets and case information. This is not a jail roster, but it shows active criminal cases. You can search by name, case number, or filing date to see court records. The docket system links to some county jail rosters, but most connections are manual rather than automated. If you need both court records and jail records, you must search each system separately.
How Colorado Counties Maintain Jail Records
Each county sheriff acts as the custodian of the county jail under Colorado law. The sheriff is responsible for all jail records. Most counties use electronic jail management systems to track inmates. Common systems include Tyler Technologies, CIDNET, and Laserfiche. These systems handle booking, classification, housing assignments, medical records, commissary accounts, and release processing. Data from these systems feeds the public jail roster.
When a person is arrested and booked, deputies enter their information into the jail management system. This includes personal identifiers, charges, arresting agency, and booking date. The system generates a booking number. If the court sets bond, deputies enter that amount. If the inmate posts bond or is released on their own recognizance, deputies mark the release date and time. All this data becomes part of the public record under state law.
Not all counties publish every data field online. Some counties show only basic information like name, booking date, and charges. Other counties include photos, bond amounts, housing units, and expected release dates. The level of detail varies based on the county's technology budget, staffing, and policies. However, all counties must maintain the full record even if they do not publish every field on their website.
Historical records for former inmates are usually not available through online search tools. Most county jail rosters show only current inmates. If you need information about someone who was released, you must contact the jail's records unit directly. Some counties charge fees for copies of old booking records. Others provide this information for free. Processing times for historical records can range from a few days to several weeks depending on the county's workload.
Colorado Bureau of Investigation Criminal History Checks
The Colorado Bureau of Investigation maintains the state's central repository of criminal history records. This database is separate from jail rosters. CBI collects arrest records from all Colorado law enforcement agencies when fingerprints are submitted. The CBI database shows arrests, charges, and dispositions for each person. It covers both county and state cases going back many years.
You can request a CBI criminal history check through their online portal at cbirecordscheck.com. This is the Internet Criminal History Check system, or ICHC. The search requires a fee and may take several days to process. Results show arrests that were supported by fingerprints. Arrests without fingerprints are not included. Warrant information, sealed records, and juvenile records are not available to the public through this system.
A CBI check is different from a jail roster search. The jail roster shows who is in custody right now. The CBI check shows a person's full criminal history regardless of current custody status. If you need to know whether someone has been arrested in the past, a CBI check is the right tool. If you just want to know if someone is in jail today, use the county jail roster or VINE.
Tips for Searching Colorado Jail Rosters
Start with the county where you think the person was arrested. Each county has its own jail roster, so you must know which county to search. If you are not sure, try the county where the person lives or where the alleged crime occurred. You can also use VINE to search multiple facilities at once. VINE covers county jails and state prisons across Colorado, so it is useful when you do not know the exact location.
Use the person's full legal name for the most accurate results. Nicknames and shortened names may not return results. If the search comes up empty, try variations of the name. Some people go by their middle name. Others use a maiden name or married name. Jail records use the name on the person's ID at the time of booking, which may not be the name you know them by.
Check multiple sources if you cannot find the person. They may have been transferred to another county or released already. Jail populations change constantly. Someone in custody today may be out tomorrow. Use VINE to set up notifications so you know when custody status changes. This is especially helpful if you need to track an inmate over time.
Remember that jail rosters show only people who have been arrested, not people who have been convicted. All persons arrested are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. An arrest does not mean the person committed a crime. Charges can be dropped, reduced, or dismissed. Always verify information through official court records if you need accurate details about a case outcome.
Browse Colorado Jail Rosters by County
Each county in Colorado operates its own jail with a public roster. Select a county below to find local jail information, inmate search tools, and contact details for the sheriff's office.
Jail Rosters in Major Colorado Cities
Residents of major cities are booked at their county jail. Select a city below to learn about jail rosters and inmate search resources in that area.