San Miguel County Booking Records
San Miguel County recent bookings are maintained by the sheriff's office in Telluride. When someone gets arrested in San Miguel County, they go to the county detention facility for processing. The jail keeps detailed records of all people in custody. You can search for recent arrests or check if someone is currently held at the facility. Colorado law requires county jails to maintain a public log of inmates. Anyone can request access to these booking records during regular business hours. The San Miguel County Sheriff provides this information as required by state statutes.
San Miguel County Detention Facility
The San Miguel County Sheriff operates the detention facility in Telluride. All arrests in the county go through this jail. The facility serves Telluride and the rest of San Miguel County. The jail runs around the clock. Staff process bookings at any time as arrests occur.
During booking, staff collect personal information from the arrested person. They record name, date of birth, and physical description. They note the charges and which agency made the arrest. This information becomes part of the booking record. Colorado law at C.R.S. 17-26-118 requires jails to keep a daily log of all inmates. The log must be open to the public.
You can contact the San Miguel County Sheriff's Office to check on inmate status. Staff can tell you if someone is in custody. They can provide basic information over the phone like booking date, charges, and bond amount. For detailed records or copies of documents, you may need to visit the office in person or submit a written records request.
San Miguel County is in southwestern Colorado. The county includes the popular ski resort town of Telluride. Arrest activity can increase during peak tourist season when more visitors come to the area. The jail handles all arrests from across the county.
You can search court cases for San Miguel County through the Colorado Judicial Branch website. The docket search shows case information, charges, and court dates. This provides more detail than booking records alone.
Colorado Public Records Laws
The Colorado Criminal Justice Records Act governs how agencies release booking and arrest records. This law is at C.R.S. 24-72-301. Booking records count as official action records that must be released when requested. The law ensures transparency in the criminal justice system.
San Miguel County must respond to records requests within three working days as required by the Colorado Open Records Act. If the county needs more time to locate or review records, they can take up to seven additional days. They must notify you in writing if they need the extension and explain why.
Basic booking information is usually free or low cost. If you want copies of reports, the county can charge 25 cents per page after the first 25 pages. If staff must spend more than an hour searching for records, they can charge for their time. State law limits these fees to actual costs.
If you request booking photos, you must sign a pecuniary gain statement. The law is at C.R.S. 24-72-305.5. This statement says you will not use the photos for profit or post them on websites that charge money to remove them. This protects people from commercial exploitation. The sheriff's office will provide the form you need to sign.
San Miguel County Court System
People arrested in San Miguel County appear in the San Miguel County Combined Court in Telluride. First appearances happen within 48 hours of arrest in most cases. The judge sets bond at this initial hearing. Court proceedings are generally open to the public.
Court files contain more information than booking records. The file includes charging documents, police affidavits, motions, and court orders. Some documents may be sealed by court order. The court clerk can tell you what records are available for each case. You can request copies at the clerk's office. Standard copying fees apply.
If a defendant cannot afford a lawyer, the court appoints a public defender. San Miguel County residents have access to the Colorado State Public Defender office. The public defender provides free legal representation to people who meet income requirements.
Note: Court records provide the most complete information about a case including all filings and outcomes.
Statewide Criminal Record Searches
The Colorado Bureau of Investigation maintains the state's central repository of criminal records. The CBI database includes fingerprint-based arrest records from all Colorado counties. You can request a criminal history check through the CBI website. The check costs $6.00 per result downloaded.
A CBI check shows arrests from across the state, not just San Miguel County. The report includes convictions and court dispositions. Only arrests where fingerprints were taken appear in the database. Warrant information and sealed records do not show up on CBI reports. The check only notes currently registered sex offenders.
For people in state prison, use the Colorado Department of Corrections search tool. County jails like San Miguel County hold people awaiting trial or serving sentences under one year. State prison houses people with longer sentences. The CDOC database does not include county jail inmates.
Nearby County Bookings
If you do not find the person in San Miguel County, try nearby counties. Montrose County is north of San Miguel County. Ouray County sits to the northeast. San Juan County borders San Miguel to the south. Dolores County lies to the southwest. Each county operates its own jail and maintains separate booking records.