Mesa County Jail Records

Mesa County jail records are available through the online inmate locator system. Search by name, date of birth, or booking number.

Mesa County Detention Facility

The Mesa County Detention Facility is located at 215 Rice Street in Grand Junction. This jail serves the largest population on Colorado's Western Slope. The facility was originally built to house 392 inmates but now has 553 beds after remodeling and expansion. Despite the extra space, the jail often operates above its target capacity of 442 inmates, which is 80 percent of total capacity.

About 80 percent of the Mesa County jail population is pre-trial. This means most people in the jail have not been convicted yet. They are waiting for their court dates or cannot afford bail. The majority of inmates face felony charges. Juveniles arrested in Mesa County are not taken to the adult jail. They go to the Grand Mesa Youth Services Center for evaluation and possible detention.

How to Search Mesa County Jail Records

Mesa County offers a free online inmate locator at inmateinfo.mesacounty.us. You can search by last name, date of birth, or booking number. The system shows the inmate's charges and bail bond amount. It is updated regularly, so you can see recent bookings and releases.

To search by name, type the last name in the search box. The system will show all matches. Click on the name to see more details. If you know the booking number, you can search that way for faster results. The booking number is assigned when the person is processed into the jail. Family members often get this number from the inmate during their first phone call.

If the inmate search does not show the person you are looking for, they may not be in custody yet. Booking takes time, especially if the jail is busy. Wait a few hours and try again. You can also call the jail at (970) 244-3500 to ask if the booking is complete. Staff can check the system for you and tell you when the inmate will show up in the online search.

For information about inmates who were recently released, check the online locator. It may still show recent releases for a short time. If not, call the jail and ask when the person was let out. The staff can look up release dates and times in their records. This helps if you are picking someone up or need to verify that they left custody.

Mesa County Jail Operations and Housing

The Mesa County Detention Facility uses a pod system to house inmates. Different housing units are designated for males, females, and inmates with special needs. Females cannot be housed with males under Colorado law. Co-defendants often cannot be housed together to prevent witness tampering or other problems. Special management inmates require increased supervision and are kept in separate areas.

When the jail population exceeds 80 percent capacity, it becomes harder to properly classify inmates. Classification means grouping inmates by risk level, charges, and behavior. A crowded jail has less flexibility to separate people who should not be together. This is why Mesa County tries to keep the population under 442 inmates. The jail works with the courts and prosecutors to manage the population through release programs and alternative sentencing when appropriate.

Mesa County Jail provides medical care for inmates. A medical team is on site to handle routine health needs and emergencies. Inmates with serious medical problems may be taken to a hospital under guard. Mental health services are also available. Many inmates in Colorado jails have substance abuse or mental health issues. The jail works to connect these inmates with treatment programs when possible.

Visiting Inmates at Mesa County Jail

Mesa County Detention Facility allows inmates to have visitors. Check the jail website or call ahead to find out the visitation schedule. You may need to register as an approved visitor before your first visit. Bring a valid photo ID such as a driver's license. All visitors must be at least 18 years old unless they are the inmate's child, in which case they must be accompanied by an adult.

Follow the dress code when visiting. Do not wear clothing that is revealing, looks like jail attire, or displays gang symbols. Leave all personal items in your car. You cannot bring phones, bags, wallets, keys, or other belongings into the jail. Lockers may be available in the lobby, but it is safer to leave things in your vehicle. If you bring prohibited items, you will be turned away and may not be allowed to reschedule that day.

Visits at Mesa County Jail typically last 20 to 30 minutes. Some visits are in person through glass partitions with phones. Others may be video visits depending on the inmate's housing unit. The jail staff will explain the rules when you check in. All visits are monitored and recorded. Do not discuss anything illegal or try to pass items to the inmate, as this can result in criminal charges for both you and the inmate.

Colorado Jail Records Law

Under C.R.S. § 17-26-118, all Colorado county jails must keep daily records of inmates. The records must include each inmate's name, date of entrance, date of birth, race, ethnicity, gender, charges, jurisdiction, bond amount, sentence term if sentenced, and release date. The statute requires that this information be available to the public at all reasonable hours.

Mesa County complies with this law by providing a public online inmate search. Anyone can access the system without needing a login or paying a fee. This transparency helps families locate loved ones and allows the public to see who is being held in the county jail. If you have trouble accessing jail records, you can file a public records request under the Colorado Open Records Act. The sheriff's office must respond to such requests within a reasonable time.

Cities in Mesa County

Mesa County includes several cities and towns on Colorado's Western Slope. All arrests in Mesa County are processed at the detention facility in Grand Junction.

Other cities in Mesa County include Fruita, Palisade, and Clifton. People arrested in these towns are booked into the Mesa County Detention Facility in Grand Junction.

Nearby Counties

Mesa County borders several other counties in western Colorado. If you are searching for someone who may have been arrested near a county line, check these nearby jails.