Washington County Recent Bookings
Washington County arrest records and recent bookings are available through the sheriff's office in Akron. All people arrested in Washington County get processed at the county jail. The facility maintains records of current inmates and recent arrests. You can search for booking information by contacting the sheriff's office directly. Colorado state law requires county jails to keep a public log of all inmates. This log must be available for public inspection at reasonable times. Anyone can request information about people currently in custody or recently arrested in Washington County.
Washington County Jail Records
The Washington County Sheriff runs the jail in Akron. This facility serves the entire county. All arrests in Washington County lead to this jail for booking. The jail operates around the clock. Staff are on duty at all times to process new bookings.
When someone gets arrested, staff collect information during booking. They record name, date of birth, and physical details. They note the charges and which agency made the arrest. This information goes into a booking log. Colorado law at C.R.S. 17-26-118 requires jails to keep this log. The law also says the log must be open to the public.
You can call the Washington County Sheriff's Office to ask about inmates. Staff can tell you if someone is in custody. They can give you basic information over the phone like booking date and bond amount. For written records or detailed reports, you may need to visit the office or submit a records request form.
Washington County is in northeastern Colorado near the Nebraska and Kansas borders. The county has a small population. The jail is correspondingly small. Despite its size, the facility follows all state laws for booking procedures and records access.
You can search court cases for Washington 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 Records Access 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 under the law. Official action records must be released to the public when requested. The law ensures transparency in the criminal justice system.
Washington County follows state law for records requests. The sheriff's office must respond within three working days. This deadline is in the Colorado Open Records Act. If they need more time to find or review records, they can take up to seven additional days. They must give you a written explanation if they need extra time.
Basic booking information is usually free or low cost. If you want copies of documents, 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 want booking photos, you must sign a statement. The law is at C.R.S. 24-72-305.5. The statement says you will not use the photos for profit. You cannot post them on a website that charges money to remove booking pictures. This prevents commercial abuse of arrest photos. The sheriff's office has the form you need to sign.
Note: Small rural counties may have limited staff for processing records requests.
Washington County Court System
People arrested in Washington County appear in the Washington County Combined Court in Akron. First appearances happen within 48 hours of arrest. The judge sets bond at this hearing. Court proceedings are generally open to the public unless the judge orders otherwise.
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. Copying fees apply.
If a defendant cannot afford a lawyer, the court appoints a public defender. Washington County residents have access to the Colorado State Public Defender office. The public defender provides free legal representation to people who meet income requirements.
Colorado Statewide Record Searches
The Colorado Bureau of Investigation maintains criminal records for the entire state. The CBI database includes fingerprint-based arrest records from all 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 Colorado, not just Washington 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. The check only shows currently registered sex offenders.
For people in state prison, use the Colorado Department of Corrections search tool. County jails like Washington County hold people awaiting trial or serving short sentences. State prison houses people with longer sentences. The CDOC database does not include county jail inmates.
Nearby County Jails
If the person is not in Washington County, try nearby counties. Yuma County is north of Washington County. Logan County sits to the west. Lincoln County borders Washington County to the south. Sedgwick County lies to the northwest. Each county operates its own jail and keeps separate booking records.