How to Find Someone in Custody in Colorado
There is no single 'Colorado inmate search.' State prisons, county jails, and federal facilities each keep their own rosters. The good news: all three layers are checkable online, free, from official sources listed here.
- State custody: start with the Colorado Department of Corrections locator (cdoc.colorado.gov) — name or ID number searches, current facility, and in most cases projected release dates.
- County jails: 16 Colorado counties post their own jail rosters, linked below — that's where you'll find anyone arrested recently or serving under a year.
- Federal custody: the Bureau of Prisons locator (bop.gov) covers federal defendants and anyone sentenced in US District Court — a separate population people forget to check.
- Stay notified: VINELink sends automatic alerts when someone's custody status changes — transfer, release, or escape — in nearly every state.
Colorado's locator needs a DOC number or exact name; the big county jails — Denver, El Paso, Jefferson — run better rosters of their own. Content reviewed July 29, 2026 by the SearchSystems editorial team.
Official Colorado Custody Lookups
Colorado Department of Corrections — Inmate Locator
Official Free
The official Colorado state-custody search. Current facility, custody status, and release information for people serving state sentences.
VINELink — Colorado Custody Alerts
Official Free
Search custody status and register for automatic notification when someone is moved or released. Free, run for victims but open to anyone.
Federal Bureau of Prisons — Inmate Locator
Official Free
Everyone in federal custody since 1982, searchable by name or register number. Covers federal sentences, which no state system lists.
🌐 bop.gov
CDOC Offender Search
Official Free
Official public records resource for Colorado. Requests route faster when they cite exactly what this office says it holds. Government sites reorganize often; if a link breaks, the office's homepage will carry the new path.
Colorado Counties With Online Jail Rosters
These counties publish their own booking or in-custody lists — click through for each county records page.
Adams Arapahoe Archuleta Boulder Delta Denver Huerfano Lake Larimer Lincoln Mesa Pitkin Pueblo San Miguel Weld Yuma
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Colorado inmate locator free?
Yes. Every official source on this page is free to search. Sites that charge for 'inmate reports' are reselling public data.
Why can't I find someone arrested yesterday?
Fresh arrests appear in the county jail's booking system first, sometimes hours later. State locators only list people after sentencing and transfer to state custody.
Does a locator listing mean the person was convicted?
No. Jail rosters include people awaiting trial who are presumed innocent. Check the court docket for the case outcome.
How do I send money or arrange a visit?
Each facility sets its own rules — the Colorado Department of Corrections site covers state facilities, and each county sheriff posts local jail policies.
Related Colorado Records
Custody is one piece: the Colorado criminal records page covers official background checks, wants & warrants lists who's being looked for, and Colorado court records hold the cases behind every custody entry.