Park County Jail Bookings
Park County booking records are maintained by the sheriff's office in Fairplay. When someone gets arrested in Park County, they go to the county jail for processing. The jail keeps records of all people booked into custody. You can search for recent bookings by contacting the sheriff's office or visiting in person. Colorado state law requires county jails to make booking information available to the public. Anyone can request to see who is currently in the Park County jail or find out about recent arrests in the county.
Park County Sheriff Records
The Park County Sheriff runs the jail in Fairplay. This facility serves all of Park County. When law enforcement makes an arrest, the person goes through booking at this location. Booking happens 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The jail never closes.
During booking, staff collect personal information from the arrested person. They record name, date of birth, and physical description. They also note the charges and which agency made the arrest. This information goes into a booking log. C.R.S. 17-26-118 requires jails to keep these logs and make them public.
You can contact the Park County Sheriff's Office to ask about current inmates. Staff can tell you basic information over the phone like booking date and bond amount. If you need detailed records or copies of reports, you may need to visit the office or submit a written request. The office is in Fairplay near the courthouse.
For people who have been convicted and sent to state prison, use the Colorado Department of Corrections system. County jails only hold people awaiting trial or serving short sentences. Once someone gets sentenced to more than a year, they go to state prison. The CDOC has a separate search tool for state inmates.
Access to Booking Records
Colorado law guarantees public access to most booking records. The Colorado Criminal Justice Records Act is at C.R.S. 24-72-301. This law says booking information counts as an official action record. Agencies must release official action records when someone requests them.
Park County follows state rules for releasing records. The sheriff's office responds to requests within three working days in most cases. This deadline comes from the Colorado Open Records Act. If the records take longer to find or need review, the office can take up to ten days total. They must explain in writing why they need extra time.
If you want copies of mug shots, Colorado law requires a signed statement. The law is at C.R.S. 24-72-305.5. You must state that you will not use the booking photos for profit or post them on a website that charges money to remove them. This protects people from commercial exploitation of their arrest photos. The sheriff's office has the form you need to sign.
Fees may apply for copies of booking records. The first 25 pages are usually free. After that, agencies can charge 25 cents per page. If staff must spend more than an hour searching for records, they can charge for their time. These fees cannot exceed the actual cost to the county.
Park County Court Records
People arrested in Park County appear in the Park County Combined Court in Fairplay. First appearances happen fast after arrest. The judge sets bond at this hearing. Most people see a judge within 48 hours of being booked.
You can search Park County court cases through the Colorado Judicial Branch website. The docket search is free. You can look up cases by name or case number. The results show charges, court dates, and dispositions. Court records give you more detail than booking records alone.
The court clerk's office maintains case files with all documents related to a case. This includes charging documents, police affidavits, motions, and orders. Some documents may be sealed by the court. The clerk can tell you what is available for a specific case. You may need to pay copying fees to get documents.
If someone needs a lawyer and cannot pay for one, the court appoints a public defender. Park County residents can get a public defender if they meet income requirements. The public defender represents people in criminal cases at no cost to qualifying defendants.
Note: Rural counties like Park may have fewer resources for online record access than larger urban counties.
Statewide Criminal Records
The Colorado Bureau of Investigation maintains criminal records for the entire state. The CBI database includes arrest records from all 64 counties. These records are based on fingerprints submitted when someone gets arrested. You can request a criminal history check through the CBI website.
A CBI criminal history check costs $6.00 per result. The report shows all fingerprint-based arrests in Colorado. It includes convictions and court dispositions. The report does not include warrants or sealed records. Only arrests where fingerprints were taken appear in the CBI database. Some arrests do not result in fingerprinting so the CBI record may not be complete.
The CBI check is useful if you need to see someone's full criminal history across multiple counties. A Park County booking record only shows arrests in Park County. The CBI report shows arrests anywhere in Colorado. This gives you a more complete picture of someone's criminal record.
Search Nearby Counties
If you cannot find the person in Park County, try nearby counties. Summit County is north of Park County. Lake County sits to the west. Teller County borders Park County to the south. Jefferson County lies to the northeast. Each county operates its own jail and keeps separate booking records. The person you are looking for may have been arrested in a different county.