Find Jail Roster in Thornton
The Thornton jail roster shows inmates at Adams County or Weld County jails. Thornton sits in two counties, so arrests go to the jail for whichever county the arrest happened in.
Thornton Quick Facts
Which County Handles Thornton Arrests
Thornton sits in both Adams County and Weld County. Most of the city is in Adams County. A smaller part is in Weld County. When police arrest someone in Thornton, 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 Thornton. If you do not know which part of town the arrest took place in, check both counties.
Adams County holds most Thornton 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 Thornton and other nearby cities like Westminster and Commerce City. Weld County also handles some Thornton arrests. The Weld County Jail is at 2110 O Street in Greeley. This jail serves the northern part of Thornton and other Weld County towns.
If you need to find someone arrested in Thornton, start with Adams County. Check Adams County first. If the person is not there, try Weld County. Each county runs its own jail and has its own online search tool. You cannot search both at once, so you may need to check each one if you are not sure where the arrest took place in Thornton.
Adams County Detention Center
The Adams County Detention Center is the main jail for Thornton arrests that happen in the Adams County part of the city. The jail is in Brighton, which is northeast of Thornton. 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 Thornton residents arrested in the southern 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 Thornton.
Weld County Jail
The Weld County Jail handles arrests from the Weld County part of Thornton. This jail is in Greeley, which is north of Thornton. It holds people awaiting trial and those serving short sentences. The jail has space for over 800 inmates. Some Thornton residents end up here if their arrest happened in the northern part of the city. Weld County is large and covers many towns, so this jail serves a wide area.
| Facility | Weld County Jail |
|---|---|
| Address | 2110 O Street Greeley, CO 80631 |
| Inmate Search | apps.weld.gov/sheriff/DailyArrests/ |
The Weld 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 arrests. 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 Weld County custody in Thornton.
How to Search for Thornton Inmates
Searching for someone arrested in Thornton 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 Weld County next. Go to the Weld 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 Thornton 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
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 Thornton. If the person is not in Adams County or Weld County, call the police department that made the arrest. They can tell you which jail the person was taken to. Most Thornton arrests go to Adams County, so start there if you are not sure.
What Happens After Arrest in Thornton
When police arrest someone in Thornton, they take that person to the county jail for the area where the arrest happened. If it was in the Adams County part of Thornton, they go to Brighton. If it was in the Weld County part, they go to Greeley. 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 Weld County arrests, court is in Greeley.
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 Thornton. 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 Thornton charge.
Posting Bond for Thornton Inmates
To post bond for someone arrested in Thornton, go to the jail where they are held. If they are in Adams County, go to Brighton. If they are in Weld County, go to Greeley. 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 Thornton. 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 Thornton.
Visiting, Calls, and Commissary
Inmates in Adams County and Weld 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. Weld 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 Thornton.
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 Thornton.
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 Thornton or anywhere in Colorado. Both Adams County and Weld 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 Weld 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 Thornton 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 Thornton.
Nearby Colorado Cities
If you cannot find someone on the Thornton jail roster, check nearby cities and their county jails.
- Denver (Denver County)
- Aurora (Adams and Arapahoe Counties)
- Westminster (Adams and Jefferson Counties)
- Greeley (Weld County)
Adams and Weld County Jail Rosters
Thornton spans two counties, so check both Adams County and Weld County jail rosters to find inmates. For full details on each county detention system, visit the county pages.