Colorado Jail Mugshots and Inmate Records

Colorado jail mugshots are public records under state law. The Colorado Department of Public Safety oversees agencies that maintain these records. Each county sheriff operates a jail and keeps booking photos of inmates. State law says these records must be open for public inspection. You can search for mugshots online or request them directly from the agency that took the booking photo.

The Colorado Criminal Justice Records Act (CCJRA) governs access to booking photos and arrest records. Under C.R.S. § 24-72-301, these records favor disclosure with some privacy protections. You have the right to view and copy mugshots. Some limits apply. The law requires you to sign a statement. You must affirm the photos are not for commercial use. This rule comes from C.R.S. § 24-72-305.5(1). The same statute says you cannot use booking photos on websites that charge money to remove them.

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State Resources for Colorado Mugshot Searches

The Colorado Department of Corrections runs the state prison system. They do not operate county jails. Their inmate locator only shows state prisoners. You can search by name or DOC number. This tool does not show county jail inmates. Call 719-579-9580 for help. The CDOC office is at 1250 Academy Park Loop in Colorado Springs.

VINELink provides statewide custody status. The VINE system covers most Colorado jails. You can search for inmates in custody. Set up alerts for release notifications. The service is free and works 24 hours a day. You can get alerts by phone, text, or email. Over 2,900 agencies nationwide use this system. It links to mugshots and booking data when available.

Colorado Department of Corrections inmate search portal

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation keeps criminal history records. Their database has fingerprint-based arrest data. You can run a name-based search for $5. This shows arrests from Colorado only. It does not show mugshots. It does not include sealed records or juvenile arrests. Use this to check if someone has a record in Colorado. The CBI office is at 690 Kipling St in Lakewood.

How to Request Mugshots in Colorado

You have several ways to get booking photos. Online searches work for some counties. Other counties require phone or in-person requests. State law says agencies must respond in a reasonable time. The Colorado Open Records Act (CORA) gives you three business days for most requests. The CCJRA does not set a firm deadline. Most agencies respond within a week.

You must sign a pecuniary gain statement. This form says you will not use the records for commercial gain. You cannot use mugshots to solicit business. You cannot post them on pay-to-remove websites. Violating these rules can result in penalties. Always check the current fee schedule before submitting your request.

Most agencies charge $0.25 per page for copies. Some charge research fees up to $41.37 per hour. The first hour is often free. Large requests may take longer. Be specific in your request. Include the name, date of birth, and booking date if you know it. Narrow requests get faster results. Broad requests for "all records" may be denied or delayed.

Finding Mugshots at County Jails

Each of Colorado's 64 counties operates a jail. The county sheriff is the custodian of these records. Many counties now post booking photos online. Adams County has an online inmate search. You can search by partial name. Arapahoe County provides inmate lookup tools. They show charges and bond info. Jefferson County updates their inmate list every 15 minutes. You can search by name or see daily bookings.

Not all counties have online systems. Some smaller counties require phone calls. You may need to visit in person. Always call ahead to check their process. Bring photo ID. Be ready to fill out a request form. Some counties accept email requests. Others want written requests by mail. The key is to be specific about what you need.

Denver County runs its own jail system. They have an online inmate search. You can search by last name. Results show custody status and charges. The Denver Sheriff Department handles these requests. Their main office is at 10500 E. Smith Road. You can call 720-913-3600 for help. Weld County posts daily arrest reports online. You can search from February 2006 to present. They also list daily releases.

Colorado Laws on Booking Photo Access

Colorado law favors open access to criminal justice records. C.R.S. § 24-72-302 defines records of official action. These include arrests, charges, and dispositions. These records must be disclosed. The custodian has no choice. They cannot withhold these records. This includes booking photos taken at the time of arrest.

Other records are discretionary. The custodian decides if release serves the public interest. Ongoing investigations may be withheld. Records that invade privacy may be redacted. The law balances public access with individual rights. You can appeal a denial. Contact the agency's legal department. You may need to file a court action to force disclosure.

C.R.S. § 24-72-704 deals with sealing records. Some arrests are sealed automatically. This applies to arrests after January 1, 2022 with no charges filed. Records are sealed after one year. Arrests from 2019 to 2022 have different rules. Historical records are being sealed through 2027. Once sealed, records are not public. You cannot get mugshots for sealed cases. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation handles this process.

Historical Colorado Mugshots

The Colorado State Archives keeps old booking photos. They have mug shots from 1927 to 1992. These are historical records. They are open to the public. You can search the archives online. Find the inmate number first. Then request the file. These records show the history of corrections in Colorado.

Researchers use these photos for many projects. Genealogists trace family history. Writers study crime trends. Historians look at fashion and photography. The archives also hold parole records and case files. These give context to the mugshots. You can visit the archives in person. Some records are digitized online. Contact the archives for help with your search.