The phone rings at 2 a.m. A friend or family member has been arrested in Colorado Springs. You do not know where they are, what they are charged with, or whether they can bond out. Your first step is finding them. Here is how to do it.
Quick Summary: Search for Inmates in El Paso County Jail, CO
- Visit the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Inmate Search portal.
- Enter the inmate’s last name or booking number and submit your search.
- Open the inmate’s booking record to view custody status, charges, bond, and court information.
- Double-check the spelling or try the booking number if no results appear.
- If you still can’t locate the inmate, contact the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Booking Desk for assistance.
Start with the El Paso County Inmate Search / Inmate Locator
The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office runs an online inmate search for anyone booked into the county jail. Visit the official El Paso County inmate search page and enter the person’s last name.
The search is last name only. So if your friend is named Smith or Jones, 6 or 8 names might pop up. The system will show all the Smiths currently incarcerated there.
Hyphenated names can be an issue. I usually try all three version. For a client named Mary Davis-Jackson, I might try Davis, Jackson, or Davis-Jackson.
What to Do If the Person Does Not Appear
Do not panic if a recent arrest does not show up right away. Jail staff must finish the booking process before the person’s information goes online. Booking can take several hours, especially on busy nights.
If you still cannot find the person after waiting, call the El Paso County Jail booking desk at 719-390-2151. Staff can tell you whether the person is in custody.
What the Search Covers (and What It Does Not)
The search only covers people currently held at the El Paso County Jail. Locals call it the Criminal Justice Center, or CJC. The search does not cover every jail and prison in Colorado.
The person will not appear in the search if they are held in:
- Another county jail, such as Pueblo or Douglas County3
- A Colorado Department of Corrections prison
- A federal detention facility
- Any facility outside Colorado
A person can also drop off the search after posting bond, being released, or being transferred to another facility. If someone appeared yesterday and is gone today, one of those three things likely happened.
One more point that confuses people: the arresting agency does not determine where you search. Someone arrested by the Colorado Springs Police Department still gets booked into the El Paso County Jail. They will appear in the CJC search, not on a police department website.
What the Search Results Tell You
A successful search may show you:
- The person’s name
- Booking or inmate number
- Booking date
- Next court date
- Criminal charges and case number
- Bond information, if a bond has been set
This tells you two important things. First, whether the person is still in custody. Second, whether a bond has been set and for how much. If you plan to post bond or contact a bondsman, this is the information you need.
Many bonds will be listed as C/S/P Bond, which means it is a cash, surety, or property bond. You can often post a cash bond, which will be returned to you after the case is closed if the defendant complies with the conditions of the bond.
If you decide to use a bondsman, they will have a fee (typically a percentage of the full bond amount) to post a bond on the inmate’s behalf. Either way, it is important that the person comply with all bond conditions, or they could have their bond revoked or have additional criminal charges filed.
Why You Should Verify Before Acting
Charges and bond conditions can change after a court hearing. A judge can raise a bond, lower it, or add conditions. The Sheriff’s Office warns that the online information should not be used for official legal purposes without verification.
Before you make an important decision based on the search results, call the jail or review the person’s court case. Do not wire money to a bondsman based on a screenshot from three days ago.
Finding an Inmate: Your Next Steps
If someone you know has been arrested in El Paso County, act quickly. Search the inmate database, confirm the charges and bond amount, and call the booking desk at 719-390-2151 if you have questions.
The hours after an arrest matter. What your loved one says to police, and how quickly they get legal representation, can shape the entire case. If the charges are serious, contact a criminal defense attorney before the first court appearance.
The post How to Lookup an Inmate in the El Paso County Jail (Colorado) first appeared on McDowell Law Firm.
from McDowell Law Firm https://mcdowellfirm.com/how-to-lookup-an-inmate-in-the-el-paso-county-jail-colorado/
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