Find San Juan County Jail Roster

San Juan County jail roster information is handled by the Sheriff's Office in Silverton. This is one of the smallest and most remote counties in Colorado.

San Juan County Sheriff's Office

The San Juan County Sheriff operates a very small jail in Silverton. This is the least populous county in Colorado. The jail sits high in the San Juan Mountains at over 9,300 feet elevation. Few inmates are held here compared to larger counties. Most people arrested for serious crimes are moved to other facilities that can handle long-term custody. The Sheriff's Office also provides all law enforcement for the county since Silverton has no police force of its own.

San Juan County has no online inmate search system. Call the Sheriff's Office to ask about current inmates or recent bookings. Staff will tell you if someone is in custody and provide basic details about charges and bond. The office is small and you may reach the same few people each time you call. That makes it easier to get quick answers, but hours are limited. If you need jail roster info after hours or on weekends, you may have to wait until the next business day to speak with someone in San Juan County.

How to Find San Juan County Inmates

There is no web portal for San Juan County jail searches. Phone or in-person visits are your only options. Call the Sheriff's Office during regular business hours. Have the full name and approximate date of arrest when you call. This helps staff locate the right person in their records. The jail roster is small, so searches do not take long in San Juan County.

If you need to check on someone after hours, try the VINE system. Visit vinelink.com and search by name or booking number. VINE tracks custody status across Colorado. You can set up alerts to get updates when an inmate is released or transferred. This service is free and works for San Juan County once the booking is entered into the statewide system. For state prison inmates, use the Colorado Department of Corrections search at www.doc.state.co.us/oss. That tool only covers prisons, not county jails.

Written requests for jail records can be submitted to the Sheriff's Office in person or by mail. You may need to fill out a public records request form under Colorado law. There could be a small fee for copies of documents. Ask staff at the front desk how to request records if you need more than just the daily roster info. Processing time for records varies based on how busy the office is and how much material you request in San Juan County.

San Juan County Jail Details

The jail in Silverton is one of the smallest in the state. It has very limited capacity. Most inmates held here are awaiting court hearings or serving short misdemeanor sentences. Felony cases often lead to transfers to larger facilities in other counties. La Plata County and Montrose County sometimes hold San Juan County inmates under agreement. The Sheriff decides where to house inmates based on space and security needs.

Winter weather can make travel to and from the jail difficult. Silverton sits in a mountain valley that gets heavy snow. Roads may close due to avalanches or storms. This can delay court appearances and inmate transfers. If you plan to visit an inmate during winter months, check road conditions first. Call ahead to confirm visiting hours and make sure the jail is accessible. The high elevation also affects some visitors, so be aware of altitude sickness if you are coming from a lower area in Colorado.

Inmate Services in San Juan County

Visiting an inmate in San Juan County requires advance planning. Call the Sheriff's Office to ask about visiting days and times. Visits may be limited to certain hours each week. All visitors must show a photo ID and follow jail rules. The facility is small, so space for visits is tight. Be on time and expect security checks before you are allowed inside.

Inmates can make collect calls from the jail. They cannot receive calls from outside. Ask the jail staff which phone service the county uses to accept inmate calls. You may need to set up a prepaid account with that company. To send money to an inmate, contact the Sheriff's Office for instructions. Each county picks its own system for deposits. Mail is allowed but will be inspected before inmates receive it. Do not send cash, stamps, or items that are not permitted by jail rules. Check with staff if you are unsure what you can mail to someone in custody in San Juan County.

Colorado Laws on Jail Rosters

All Colorado county jails must keep a daily roster under C.R.S. § 17-26-118. This law says the roster must list each inmate's name, booking date, date of birth, race, ethnicity, gender, charges, bond amount, and release date. The public can access this information during reasonable hours. San Juan County follows this rule even though it does not publish the roster online. You can get the same data by calling or visiting the Sheriff's Office.

Juvenile records are not public in Colorado. Inmates under 18 are shielded by C.R.S. § 19-1-304. The jail will not release information about minors to the general public. Only parents, guardians, and attorneys for the minor can get those records. For adult inmates, the roster is open to anyone who asks. This transparency helps families locate loved ones and ensures accountability in the jail system across Colorado, including small counties like San Juan.

Communities in San Juan County

San Juan County has no cities with a population over 25,000. Silverton is the only incorporated town and serves as the county seat. The entire county has fewer than 800 residents. Silverton is a historic mining town that now relies on tourism. All law enforcement and jail services come from the San Juan County Sheriff. There are no local police departments. If someone is arrested anywhere in the county, they go to the jail in Silverton.

Nearby Counties

These counties border San Juan County. Inmates may be transferred to neighboring counties if the Silverton jail has no space or lacks proper facilities.