Yuma County Recent Bookings
Yuma County arrest records and recent bookings are maintained by the sheriff's office in Wray. All people arrested in Yuma County get processed at the county detention facility. The jail keeps records of current inmates and recent arrests. You can search for booking information by contacting the sheriff's office. Colorado state law requires county jails to maintain a public log of all people in custody. This log must include names, booking dates, charges, and bond amounts. Anyone can request access to these records during regular business hours.
Yuma County Sheriff Jail Operations
The Yuma County Sheriff operates the jail in Wray. This facility serves the entire county. All arrests in Yuma County lead to this jail for booking. The jail runs 24 hours a day every day of the year. Staff are on duty at all times to process new bookings.
When someone gets arrested, staff collect their 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 Yuma 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, charges, and bond amount. For written records or detailed reports, you may need to visit the office in person or submit a records request form.
Yuma County is in the far northeast corner of Colorado. The county borders both Nebraska and Kansas. The county has a small population. The jail is small but follows all state laws for booking procedures and records access.
If the person you are looking for is not in county jail, they may be in state prison. The Colorado Department of Corrections runs the state prison system. County jails hold people awaiting trial or serving short sentences. State prison holds people with longer sentences. The CDOC has its own search tool for state inmates.
Public Access to Arrest Records
Colorado law guarantees public access to most booking records. The Colorado Criminal Justice Records Act is the main law. It is in C.R.S. 24-72-301. This law defines criminal justice records and sets rules for releasing them. Booking records are official action records. Agencies must release official action records when requested.
Yuma 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 and resources compared to large urban counties.
Yuma County Court System
People arrested in Yuma County appear in the Yuma County Combined Court in Wray. First appearances happen within 48 hours of arrest in most cases. The judge sets bond at this hearing. Court proceedings are generally open to the public unless the judge orders otherwise.
Court records contain more information than booking records. The court file includes charging documents, police affidavits, motions, and orders. You can search Yuma County cases through the Colorado Judicial Branch website. The search is free. You type in a name or case number. Results show charges, court dates, and outcomes.
The court clerk maintains case files at the courthouse in Wray. Some documents may be sealed by court order. The clerk can tell you what is 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. Yuma County residents can get a public defender if they qualify. The public defender provides free legal help in criminal cases to people who meet income limits.
Colorado Statewide Searches
The Colorado Bureau of Investigation keeps statewide criminal records. The CBI database has arrest records from all 64 counties. These records are based on fingerprints taken at booking. You can request a criminal history check through the CBI website.
A CBI check costs $6.00 per result. The report shows all arrests where fingerprints were taken. It includes convictions and court outcomes. Warrant information and sealed records do not appear. The check only shows currently registered sex offenders. This is useful if you need to see someone's full criminal history across multiple counties.
The CDOC offender search shows people in state prison. County jail inmates do not appear in this database. Only people serving longer sentences in state facilities show up in the CDOC system. The database updates regularly with inmate locations and projected release dates.
Nearby County Jails
If the person is not in Yuma County jail, try nearby counties. Washington County is south of Yuma County. Phillips County sits to the west. Kit Carson County borders Yuma County to the southwest. Each county operates its own jail and keeps separate records.