Westminster Recent Arrests
Westminster sits in both Adams County and Jefferson County which makes finding recent bookings a bit more complex than other Colorado cities. When Westminster police arrest someone, that person gets booked at either the Adams County jail or the Jefferson County jail depending on where in the city the arrest happened. You need to search both county jail systems to find all Westminster arrests. Each county sheriff posts booking information online for free. The search tools show charges, bond amounts, booking dates, and court information. Westminster has over 113,000 residents making it one of the larger cities in the Denver metro area.
Westminster Spans Two Counties
Westminster is one of the few Colorado cities that sits in more than one county. Part of the city is in Adams County and part is in Jefferson County. This means Westminster arrests go to different jails depending on where in the city the arrest occurred. If the arrest happened on the Adams County side of Westminster, the person goes to Adams County jail. If it happened on the Jefferson County side, they go to Jefferson County jail.
To search for a Westminster arrest, you may need to check both county jail systems. The Adams County Sheriff's Office operates the detention facility in Brighton that serves the Adams County portion of Westminster. The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office runs the jail that serves the Jefferson County portion of the city. Both counties post inmate information online for free public access.
Westminster Police Department makes arrests throughout the city. After an arrest, officers take the person to the appropriate county jail based on where the arrest happened. The arresting agency will be listed as Westminster Police in both county systems. The only difference is which county jail processed the booking.
Adams County Inmate Search
If the Westminster arrest happened on the Adams County side of the city, search the Adams County inmate search portal. The search tool lets you enter a name and see all matches from the current jail population. Results show charges, bond amounts, and booking dates for everyone in custody.
The Adams County jail is at 150 North 19th Avenue in Brighton. This facility holds inmates from the Adams County portion of Westminster along with arrests from other Adams County cities. The sheriff updates the inmate database daily by 7 AM. New Westminster bookings appear as they get processed. You can search 24 hours a day.
Each search result shows basic information. Click on a name to see full details including all charges, bond amounts, and case numbers. The arresting agency field shows Westminster Police if that department made the arrest. For questions about an Adams County inmate, call the jail at (303) 654-1850.
Jefferson County Inmate Search
If the Westminster arrest happened on the Jefferson County side of the city, search the Jefferson County inmate lookup portal. This database shows everyone currently in the Jefferson County jail. You can search by name or view all people booked on a specific date.
Jefferson County updates its inmate database every 15 minutes. This means the information stays current with what is happening at the jail. New Westminster bookings appear shortly after processing. The system shows charges, bond information, and upcoming court dates for each inmate.
Search results include the person's name, booking date, and jail ID number. Click on a name to see full details. The arresting agency field tells you if Westminster Police made the arrest. For questions about a Jefferson County inmate, call the Inmate Information Hotline at 303-271-5444.
Note: Jefferson County only displays current inmates; released inmates do not appear in search results.
Which County Jail to Search
If you are not sure which county jail holds a Westminster arrest, search both systems. It only takes a few minutes to check both Adams County and Jefferson County databases. The county line runs through the middle of Westminster so arrests can go either way depending on the exact location.
If you know where in Westminster the arrest happened, you can make an educated guess about which county to check first. The eastern and northern parts of Westminster tend to be in Adams County. The western and southern parts tend to be in Jefferson County. But the county line is irregular so this is not always accurate. When in doubt, search both.
The arresting agency will be Westminster Police in both systems. This does not tell you which county processed the booking. Only the county jail location and booking number tell you which system the person is in.
Westminster Court Cases
Court cases for Westminster arrests go to either Adams County court or Jefferson County court depending on where the arrest happened. Each county has its own courthouse and court system. You can search court dockets through the Colorado Judicial Branch website. The docket search shows case information and upcoming court dates.
After an arrest, the person sees a judge within 48 hours for a first appearance. This is when bond gets set. The court docket will show which county is handling the case and when the next court date is scheduled. You can search by name or case number. Court records are public so anyone can access them.
Both Adams County and Jefferson County have public defender offices. The court appoints a public defender at the first appearance if you qualify based on income. You can also hire a private criminal defense attorney. The Colorado Bar Association offers a lawyer referral service if you need help finding an attorney in Westminster.
Public Access to Booking Records
Colorado law requires county jails to keep a daily log of all inmates per C.R.S. 17-26-118. This log must include each person's name, date of birth, booking date, charges, and bond. The law says these logs are public records available at all reasonable times. Both Adams County and Jefferson County provide online access to meet this legal requirement.
The Colorado Criminal Justice Records Act in C.R.S. 24-72-301 covers how agencies release arrest and booking information. Records of official actions like arrests must be made public. Both counties comply by posting inmate data online where anyone can search it for free. You do not need to file a formal records request to access basic booking information through the sheriff websites.
If you want detailed arrest records or booking photos, you may need to submit a written request to the appropriate sheriff's office. Colorado law requires anyone requesting mug shots to sign a pecuniary gain statement per C.R.S. 24-72-305.5. This statement says you will not use the photos for commercial purposes. The rule prevents websites from charging people to remove their booking photos. Both counties provide the required form when you request booking photographs.
Westminster Police Reports
Westminster Police Department has its own records division for police reports and incident records. If you need a copy of a police report from a Westminster arrest, contact the police department directly. Police reports are different from jail booking records maintained by the county sheriffs. The police report shows what happened during an arrest or incident. The booking record shows custody status and charges filed at the jail.
Contact Westminster Police for information on how to request police reports. Check the city website for current procedures and fees. There may be an online portal for records requests or you may need to visit or call the police department.
Other Resources for Westminster Arrests
The Colorado Bureau of Investigation maintains statewide criminal history records. You can request a background check through CBI to see someone's full arrest history from anywhere in Colorado. Background checks cost $6 per search result. The CBI database includes fingerprint-based arrest records from all Colorado law enforcement agencies including Westminster Police.
For inmates in state prison, check the Colorado Department of Corrections website. CDOC operates state prisons which are separate from county jails. The CDOC website has an inmate locator for people serving sentences in state facilities. If someone is not in Adams County or Jefferson County jail, they might be in state custody.
Both Adams County and Jefferson County use the VINE system for custody notifications. You can register with VINE to receive alerts when an inmate is released from jail. This free service sends notifications by phone, email, or text when an inmate's status changes. VINE is available to crime victims and other interested parties.
Bookings in Nearby Cities
Thornton is north of Westminster in Adams County. Thornton arrests go through the Adams County jail. Lakewood is south of Westminster in Jefferson County. Lakewood arrests go through the Jefferson County jail. Denver is east of Westminster and operates its own city and county jail. Aurora is in Arapahoe County. Each city books arrests into its own county jail system.
Westminster is unique among Colorado cities because it spans two counties. Most other cities sit entirely within one county which makes searching for arrests simpler. For Westminster, remember to check both Adams County and Jefferson County if you cannot find who you are looking for in one system.