Aurora Jail Roster
Jail roster records for Aurora depend on where the arrest happened since the city spans three counties. Most arrests go to Adams County or Arapahoe County jails.
Aurora Quick Facts
Which County Handles Aurora Arrests
Aurora is the only major Colorado city that sits in three counties at once. Most of the city is in Adams County. A large part is also in Arapahoe County. A small section is in Douglas County. When police arrest someone in Aurora, they take that person to the jail for whichever county the arrest happened in. You must check the right county jail roster to find someone arrested in Aurora.
Adams County holds most Aurora arrests because the largest part of the city is in Adams County. The Adams County Detention Center is at 3401 Potomac Street in Brighton. It holds people arrested in the Adams County part of Aurora and other nearby cities. Arapahoe County also handles many Aurora arrests. The Arapahoe County Detention Facility is at 13101 East Broncos Parkway in Centennial. Douglas County rarely handles Aurora arrests since only a tiny part of the city is in that county.
If you need to find someone arrested in Aurora, start with Adams County. Check Adams County first. If the person is not there, try Arapahoe County. Each county runs its own jail and has its own online search tool. You cannot search all three at once, so you may need to check each one if you are not sure where the arrest took place in Aurora.
Adams County Detention Center
The Adams County Detention Center is the main jail for Aurora arrests that happen in the Adams County part of the city. The jail is in Brighton, which is north of Aurora. It holds people awaiting trial and those serving sentences up to one year. The facility can hold over 900 inmates. It is one of the larger county jails in Colorado. Most Aurora residents arrested in the northern and central parts of the city go here.
| Facility | Adams County Detention Center |
|---|---|
| Address | 3401 Potomac Street Brighton, CO 80601 |
| Inmate Search | adamscosheriff.net/portal/jail |
The Adams County Sheriff operates this jail. You can search for inmates online by going to adamscosheriff.net/portal/jail. Enter the last name or booking number to find someone. The roster updates often, so new bookings appear within a few hours. If you need help, call the jail or visit the lobby during business hours. Staff can look up inmates and answer questions about bond and release times for people arrested in Aurora.
Arapahoe County Detention Facility
The Arapahoe County Detention Facility handles arrests from the Arapahoe County part of Aurora. This jail is in Centennial, just south of Aurora. It holds people awaiting trial and those serving short sentences. The jail has space for over 1,000 inmates. Many Aurora residents end up here if their arrest happened in the southern part of the city.
| Facility | Arapahoe County Detention Facility |
|---|---|
| Address | 13101 East Broncos Parkway Centennial, CO 80112 |
| Inmate Search | arapahoeco.gov Inmate Search |
The Arapahoe County Sheriff runs this facility. You can search for inmates online at the link above. Enter the name or booking number. The roster shows current inmates and recent releases. If the person is not listed, they may have posted bond or been moved to another facility. Call the jail if you need more info. Staff can tell you where an inmate is or when they might be released from Arapahoe County custody in Aurora.
How to Search for Aurora Inmates
Searching for someone arrested in Aurora takes a few steps because of the multi-county setup. Start by checking the Adams County jail roster. Go to adamscosheriff.net/portal/jail and search by name. If you do not find the person, try Arapahoe County next. Go to the Arapahoe County inmate search page and enter the same name. One of these two jails will have the person unless the arrest was very recent or they were already released.
To search the Aurora jail roster across counties, you need:
- Full name of the person arrested
- Date of birth helps narrow results
- Booking number if you have it
- Approximate date of arrest
If the person is not in Adams County or Arapahoe County, check Douglas County. Most Aurora arrests do not go there, but it is possible if the arrest happened in the small Douglas County section of the city. You can call the Douglas County Sheriff at 303-660-7505 to ask if they have someone in custody. Each county updates its roster at different times, so new arrests may not show up right away. Wait a few hours and try again if you search too soon after an arrest in Aurora.
What Happens After Arrest in Aurora
When police arrest someone in Aurora, they take that person to the county jail for the area where the arrest happened. If it was in the Adams County part of Aurora, they go to Brighton. If it was in the Arapahoe County part, they go to Centennial. The booking process is the same in both places. Deputies take fingerprints, photos, and record the charges. They check for warrants from other places. This takes two to four hours on average.
Bond is set based on the charge. Many charges have a set bond amount, so people can post bail right away. More serious charges require a court hearing first. Under C.R.S. § 16-4-101, the court must set bond within 48 hours if the person does not post it on their own. First appearance hearings happen at the county courthouse within two days. For Adams County arrests, court is in Brighton. For Arapahoe County arrests, court is in Centennial.
Once booking is done, the person goes on the public jail roster. You can see their name, charge, bond amount, and which unit holds them. The roster updates often, so family can find people fast. If bond is posted, release takes one to three hours. The jail must finish paperwork and check for holds before letting anyone go from custody in Aurora. Weekend arrests may take longer since courts are closed until Monday.
Note: If the person has a warrant from another county or state, they stay in custody even after posting bond on the Aurora charge.
Posting Bond for Aurora Inmates
To post bond for someone arrested in Aurora, go to the jail where they are held. If they are in Adams County, go to Brighton. If they are in Arapahoe County, go to Centennial. Each jail has a bond window that is open every day. You can pay with cash, money order, or card. Some people use a bail bond company. The company charges a fee and covers the full bond amount. Once bond is paid, release takes a few hours.
Not everyone gets bond. Some charges carry no bond until a judge rules. People with multiple warrants or serious violent crimes often must wait for a hearing. The court can also release someone on their own recognizance, which means no bond is needed. This happens for minor charges or people with strong ties to Aurora. The judge may add conditions like GPS monitoring or regular check-ins at the courthouse.
If the person is no longer on the jail roster, they were either released or moved. Call the jail to find out. Sometimes inmates move to state prison after sentencing if the term is over a year. Other times they transfer to another county if they have a warrant there. The jail staff can tell you where the person went if they are no longer in custody in Aurora.
Visiting, Calls, and Commissary
Inmates in Adams County and Arapahoe County jails can have visitors, make phone calls, and buy items from commissary. Each county has its own rules. Adams County does video visits only. You can do remote visits from home or use a kiosk in the jail lobby. Arapahoe County also uses video visits. Sign up online through the vendor each jail uses. There is a fee for remote visits. Lobby visits are often free but must be scheduled ahead.
Phone calls from jail go through a private vendor. Inmates can make collect calls or use a prepaid account. You can set up an account online so the inmate can call without charging you each time. All calls are recorded except calls to lawyers. Inmates get a list of approved phone numbers and can call during set hours each day. Check the county jail website for the phone vendor and how to add money to your account for inmates arrested in Aurora.
Commissary is the jail store. Inmates use money from their account to buy snacks, hygiene items, and stamps. You can put money on an inmate account online, by phone, or at a kiosk in the jail. Orders go out once or twice a week. Prices are higher than regular stores. Each county jail has its own commissary system, so check the website for the county where the inmate is held. This is the only way inmates can get extra items while in custody in Aurora.
Colorado Laws on Jail Records
Jail rosters are public records in Colorado. Under C.R.S. § 24-72-202, government agencies must share records with the public unless a law blocks release. Jail rosters fall under this rule because they show who is in custody and why. You do not need a reason to search. Anyone can look up inmates arrested in Aurora or anywhere in Colorado. Both Adams County and Arapahoe County follow this law by posting their jail rosters online.
C.R.S. § 17-26-118 sets rules for county jails. It says sheriffs must keep records of all inmates. These records include name, charge, booking date, and release date. The law requires jails to let the public see these records. That is why both Adams County and Arapahoe County post their rosters online. Some info stays private, like medical records or details that could risk safety. But basic booking info is always public in Aurora and across Colorado.
Public access to jail rosters helps families find loved ones. It also keeps the justice system transparent. Anyone can see who is in custody and what they are charged with. Critics say public rosters can harm people who are later found not guilty, but Colorado law favors openness. The state believes the public has a right to know who is in jail, even if it means some people face embarrassment before their case ends in Aurora.
Nearby Colorado Cities
If you cannot find someone on the Aurora jail roster, check nearby cities and their county jails.
Adams and Arapahoe County Jail Rosters
Aurora spans multiple counties, so check both Adams County and Arapahoe County jail rosters to find inmates. For full details on each county detention system, visit the county pages.