Find Archuleta County Bookings

Archuleta County provides public access to recent bookings and arrest records through the Archuleta County Sheriff's Office. All arrests in Archuleta County result in booking at the county detention facility in Pagosa Springs. You can search for people currently in jail or check recent arrest information. The sheriff maintains these records and makes them available as required by Colorado law. Families looking for inmates and people checking on local arrests can access booking records that show names, charges, booking dates, and custody status for everyone processed through the Archuleta County jail system.

Archuleta County Sheriff Jail Records

The Archuleta County Sheriff runs the detention center in Pagosa Springs. This is where all people arrested in the county get booked and held. Deputies process each person through booking when they arrive at the jail. Booking includes taking photos, fingerprints, and personal information. All of this goes into a booking record that becomes public information.

State law requires jails to keep detailed logs of everyone in custody. The statute is C.R.S. 17-26-118. It says the log must show each inmate's name, date of birth, charges, and when they were booked into jail. The log must be open to the public during reasonable hours. The Archuleta County Sheriff follows this law by maintaining current records you can access.

You can contact the sheriff's office to search for recent bookings in Archuleta County. Call or visit the office in Pagosa Springs for help finding booking information. Some counties in Colorado now post inmate rosters online. If Archuleta County does not have online search yet, you can still get the information by phone or in person. The sheriff's staff can tell you if someone is in jail and what charges they face.

Archuleta County is in the southwest part of Colorado. The population is smaller than in metro areas so the jail handles fewer bookings per day. Still, the sheriff processes all arrests from across the county. This includes people arrested by sheriff's deputies and by the Pagosa Springs Police Department. All local law enforcement agencies use the county jail for booking. The records show which agency made each arrest along with the date, time, and charges filed.

Colorado Law and Booking Records

Two Colorado laws govern access to arrest and booking records. The Colorado Open Records Act covers general government records. The Colorado Criminal Justice Records Act deals with law enforcement records specifically. Both laws make booking information public. The criminal justice records act is in C.R.S. 24-72-301 and following sections.

Under this law, booking records count as official action records. Official action records must be released to anyone who asks. They include arrest records, charging documents, and information about who is in custody. The law lists what information must be in these records. This includes the person's name, date of birth, address, charges, and arrest date. Agencies cannot withhold this information unless a specific legal exception applies.

If you want copies of booking records or mug shots, you might need to sign a statement. The statement says you will not use the records for profit. This comes from C.R.S. 24-72-305.5. The law aims to stop websites from charging people money to remove their booking photos. The Archuleta County Sheriff will provide a form when you request records that include photos. You just sign and date the form to show you understand the rule.

Records requests should get answered in three working days under the open records act. This is the standard response time for most public records in Colorado. If the Archuleta County Sheriff needs more time, they will let you know and explain why. Simple requests for current booking information usually get answered right away. More complex requests that need research or redaction may take longer. Ask when you submit your request so you know when to expect the records.

Archuleta County Court Cases

People arrested in Archuleta County appear in Archuleta County Combined Court. The courthouse is in Pagosa Springs. This court handles all criminal cases from the county including felonies and misdemeanors. You can search court records online through the Colorado Judicial Branch website. The docket search shows upcoming hearings and case information for everyone with charges in Archuleta County.

First court appearances happen within 48 hours of arrest. This is when the judge sets bond. The judge looks at the charges and the person's background to decide what bond amount is fair. After the first appearance, the case moves through other hearings like arraignment and pre-trial conferences. You can check the docket to see when a case has its next hearing scheduled. All court hearings are public so you can attend if you want to observe.

Court records show what happens with the charges after someone gets arrested. The booking record shows the arrest and jail custody. The court record shows plea deals, trial dates, and sentences. Both types of records are public but they live in different systems. Check with the sheriff for custody status and booking information. Use the judicial branch website for court dates and case outcomes.

State Criminal Justice Systems

Colorado runs several statewide databases for criminal justice information. The Colorado Department of Corrections has an inmate locator for people in state prison. This system does not show county jail inmates. If someone was in Archuleta County jail and later went to prison, you can find them in the DOC database. The locator updates regularly to show current prison inmates and their location within the state system.

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation keeps criminal history records for the whole state. Their database has arrest records from every county based on fingerprints. You can request a background check through the CBI for a fee of six dollars per search result. This gives you arrest and conviction information from across Colorado. For just checking recent Archuleta County bookings, contacting the local sheriff is faster and free.

The CBI also runs the sex offender registry for Colorado. You can search this registry online at no cost. It shows people required to register as sex offenders in the state. The registry includes their name, photo, address, and conviction information. This is separate from regular booking records but can be useful when you want more background on someone who has been arrested.

Archuleta County Detention Facility

The jail for Archuleta County is in Pagosa Springs, the county seat. All people arrested anywhere in the county go there for booking. The facility operates all day and all night. Staff process new bookings as people arrive from arrests. Even late-night arrests get booked right away so the person can see a judge within the required 48 hours.

Inmates at the Archuleta County jail can have visitors during set times. Check with the jail for current visitation hours and rules. Many jails now use video visitation instead of or in addition to in-person visits. Video visits may require signing up in advance and paying a per-minute fee. Phone calls from the jail also have fees. Inmates can call people on their approved phone list but all calls are monitored for security.

People in the Archuleta County jail are there for different reasons. Some await trial and could not afford bond. Others serve short sentences for misdemeanor convictions. The jail also holds people with warrants from other jurisdictions until they can be transferred. All of these inmates show up in the booking records along with why they are in custody and when they were booked.

Nearby County Booking Records

If you do not find someone in Archuleta County records, they may have been arrested in a nearby county. La Plata County borders Archuleta County to the west. The city of Durango is in La Plata County. Hinsdale County is to the north of Archuleta County. Mineral County and Rio Grande County are also close by. Each county operates its own jail and keeps separate booking records.

Counties in this part of Colorado cover large areas with small populations. Arrests may happen far from the county seat. Still, everyone arrested in a county gets booked at that county's jail. Check the county where the arrest took place to find booking records. If you are not sure which county someone was arrested in, you can search court dockets on the Colorado Judicial Branch website to see where their case is filed.