Garfield County Public Records / Garfield County Arrest Records

Garfield County Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Garfield County

Arrest records in Garfield County, Colorado, are generally considered public records under state law. Pursuant to the Colorado Criminal Justice Records Act (CCJRA), codified at § 24-72-301 et seq., criminal justice records — including arrest records — are presumptively open to public inspection unless a specific statutory exemption applies. The custodian of such records, typically a law enforcement agency or court clerk, may restrict access only when disclosure would be contrary to the public interest or when the records fall within a defined exemption category.

An important distinction exists between an arrest record and a conviction record. An arrest record documents the act of being taken into custody by law enforcement and does not indicate guilt or a criminal conviction. A conviction record, by contrast, reflects a formal finding of guilt by a court of law. Under Colorado law, individuals who are arrested but not convicted retain certain rights regarding the use and dissemination of their arrest information. Members of the public should be aware that the presence of an arrest record does not imply that the subject was found guilty of any offense.

The Garfield County Sheriff's Office and the Glenwood Springs Police Department serve as primary custodians of local arrest records. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) maintains statewide criminal history records and processes background check requests on behalf of the public and authorized agencies.

What's in Garfield County Arrest Records

Garfield County arrest records contain a standardized set of data fields compiled at the time of booking and throughout the criminal justice process. The specific contents of an arrest record may vary depending on the arresting agency and the nature of the offense.

Arrestee Identifying Information:

Full legal name and any known aliases
Date of birth and age at time of arrest
Physical description, including height, weight, hair color, and eye color
Race and gender
Last known address

Arrest Details:

Date, time, and location of arrest
Name and badge number of the arresting officer
Arresting agency (e.g., Garfield County Sheriff's Office, Glenwood Springs Police Department)
Incident or case number

Charge Information:

Specific criminal charges filed
Statute or ordinance allegedly violated
Classification of offense (felony, misdemeanor, or petty offense)

Warrant Information (if applicable):

Warrant number and issuing court
Date warrant was issued
Jurisdiction of the warrant

Booking Information:

Booking number assigned by the detention facility
Date and time of booking
Facility where the individual was booked (Garfield County Detention Center)

Bond/Bail Information:

Bond type (personal recognizance, cash, surety)
Bond amount set by the court
Bond status (posted, pending, forfeited)

Court Information:

Assigned court and case number
Scheduled hearing dates
Presiding judge or magistrate

Custody Status:

Current custody status (in custody, released, transferred)
Release date and conditions of release, if applicable

Additional Information May Include:

Fingerprint records
Booking photograph (mugshot)
Narrative reports from arresting officers
Disposition of charges, if available at time of request

How To Look Up Arrest Records in Garfield County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain Garfield County arrest records through several official channels. Requesters are advised to have identifying information readily available, such as the subject's full name and approximate date of birth, to facilitate an accurate search.

Garfield County Sheriff's Office: Submit a written public records request to the Sheriff's Office pursuant to § 24-72-203 of the Colorado Open Records Act (CORA). Requests may be submitted in person, by mail, or by email. The agency is required to respond within three business days.
Glenwood Springs Police Department: Members of the public may request arrest records directly from the Police Department for incidents occurring within the city limits of Glenwood Springs.
Garfield County District Court: Court records associated with criminal cases, including arrest-related filings, may be accessed through the District Court Clerk's office or via the Colorado Judicial Branch's online courts records search portal.
Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI): Statewide criminal history background checks are available through the CBI. Requests may be submitted online, by mail, or in person. A fee is assessed per search.
Garfield County Detention Center: Booking records and current inmate information may be available directly from the detention facility.

Garfield County Sheriff's Office 107 8th Street, Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 (970) 945-0453 Garfield County Sheriff's Office

Glenwood Springs Police Department 101 W. 8th Street, Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 (970) 945-3454 Glenwood Springs Police Department

Colorado Bureau of Investigation 690 Kipling Street, Suite 3000, Denver, CO 80215 (303) 239-4300 Colorado Bureau of Investigation

How To Find Garfield County Arrest Records Online

Several official online platforms currently provide access to Garfield County arrest records and related criminal justice information.

Colorado Judicial Branch Online Search: The Colorado Judicial Branch maintains a publicly accessible portal where members of the public may search court records by name or case number. The access guide to public records outlines available search methods, associated fees, and approved third-party vendors. Records are searchable by name or case number through this system.
Garfield County Sheriff's Office Website: The Sheriff's Office may publish current inmate rosters and recent arrest logs on its official website. Members of the public may visit the agency's online portal to view this information without charge.
Colorado Bureau of Investigation Online Background Checks: The CBI offers an online name-based criminal history search tool available to the general public. A fee is required for each search conducted through this system.
Colorado Judicial Branch Record Request Form: Individuals seeking specific court documents related to an arrest may submit a record and document request through the Colorado Judicial Branch's official online form. The Clerk of Court retains authority to restrict access to certain files or portions thereof.

How To Search Garfield County Arrest Records for Free?

Certain arrest record resources in Garfield County are available to the public at no cost, though comprehensive criminal history searches may require payment of applicable fees.

Garfield County Sheriff's Office Inmate Roster: The Sheriff's Office currently publishes a free online inmate roster that lists individuals held at the Garfield County Detention Center. This roster is accessible through the agency's official website and is updated regularly.
Colorado Judicial Branch Court Records Search: Basic case information, including criminal case filings and hearing dates, may be searched at no cost through the Colorado courts records search portal. Fees may apply for obtaining copies of specific documents.
In-Person Inspection at the Clerk's Office: Pursuant to CORA, members of the public have the right to inspect public records in person at the custodian's office without charge. Fees may be assessed only for copies or for staff time required to locate and compile records.
Garfield County District Court Clerk: Members of the public may visit the District Court Clerk's office during regular business hours to inspect criminal case records at no cost.

Garfield County District Court 109 8th Street, Suite 104, Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 (970) 945-5075 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Garfield County District Court

How To Delete Arrest Records in Garfield County

Colorado law provides two primary legal mechanisms for limiting public access to arrest records: expungement (legal erasure) and sealing (restricting public access). These remedies are distinct in their legal effect and eligibility requirements.

Expungement vs. Sealing: Expungement results in the physical destruction or erasure of a record, as though the arrest never occurred. Sealing, by contrast, restricts public access to the record while preserving it for use by law enforcement and certain authorized agencies. Under Colorado law, sealing is the more commonly available remedy for adult criminal records.

Eligibility for Record Sealing: Pursuant to § 24-72-706 of the Colorado Revised Statutes, individuals may petition to seal criminal records under the following circumstances:

The case was dismissed or charges were never filed
The individual was acquitted at trial
The conviction was for certain drug offenses after successful completion of a treatment program
A specified waiting period has elapsed following completion of the sentence for eligible offenses

Steps to Seal an Arrest Record in Garfield County:

Determine eligibility based on the nature of the arrest and its disposition
Obtain a copy of the criminal record from the CBI or the District Court
Complete the petition to seal criminal records, available through the Colorado Judicial Branch
File the petition with the Garfield County District Court and pay the applicable filing fee
Serve copies of the petition on the District Attorney's Office and any relevant law enforcement agencies
Attend the scheduled court hearing, if required
If the petition is granted, provide certified copies of the sealing order to all agencies holding the record

Garfield County District Attorney's Office 109 8th Street, Suite 301, Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 (970) 945-0453 Garfield County District Attorney's Office

What Happens After Arrest in Garfield County?

The criminal justice process in Garfield County follows a structured sequence of events from the point of arrest through final case disposition.

Arrest: Law enforcement officers take an individual into custody based on probable cause, a warrant, or observation of a criminal offense.
Booking: The individual is transported to the Garfield County Detention Center, where personal information is recorded, fingerprints and photographs are taken, and property is inventoried.
Initial Advisement: Within 48 hours of arrest, the individual appears before a judge or magistrate for an initial advisement of charges, rights, and bond conditions.
Bond Hearing: The court determines whether the individual may be released pending trial and, if so, under what conditions and at what bond amount.
Preliminary Hearing or Grand Jury: For felony charges, a preliminary hearing is held to determine whether probable cause exists to proceed to trial.
Arraignment: The defendant enters a formal plea of guilty, not guilty, or no contest.
Pre-Trial Proceedings: Both parties engage in discovery, motions practice, and potential plea negotiations.
Trial or Plea: The case proceeds to jury or bench trial, or is resolved through a negotiated plea agreement.
Sentencing: If the defendant is convicted, the court imposes a sentence in accordance with Colorado sentencing guidelines.
Disposition: The final outcome of the case is recorded and becomes part of the individual's criminal history.

How Long Are Arrest Records Kept in Garfield County?

Arrest records in Garfield County are subject to retention schedules established by state law and agency policy. Under Colorado law, criminal justice records are generally maintained for extended periods to preserve evidence, support ongoing investigations, and ensure accountability.

The Colorado State Archives and the Division of Criminal Justice establish retention schedules applicable to law enforcement agencies and courts. Pursuant to applicable Colorado administrative regulations, arrest records held by law enforcement agencies are typically retained for a minimum of seven years following the date of arrest, with many records maintained indefinitely depending on the severity of the offense and the outcome of the case.

Law enforcement agencies (Sheriff's Office, Police Department) generally retain arrest reports, booking records, and associated documentation for periods ranging from seven years to permanently, depending on the classification of the offense.
Court records associated with criminal cases are retained in accordance with the Colorado Judicial Branch's official records retention schedule, which mandates permanent retention for felony case files and varying periods for misdemeanor and petty offense cases.
Colorado Bureau of Investigation maintains criminal history records indefinitely unless a court order to seal or expunge the record is received and processed.
Records retention serves the dual purpose of preserving evidence for potential future proceedings and maintaining a documented record of law enforcement activity for purposes of public accountability.

How to Find Mugshots in Garfield County

What Mugshots Are A mugshot is a standardized booking photograph taken by law enforcement at the time an individual is processed into a detention facility. Mugshots are taken as part of the routine booking procedure and are maintained as part of the official arrest record.

Where Mugshots Are Maintained Mugshots taken in Garfield County are maintained by the Garfield County Detention Center and the arresting law enforcement agency. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation may also retain booking photographs as part of a subject's statewide criminal history record.

Finding Mugshots Members of the public may request booking photographs through a formal public records request submitted to the Garfield County Sheriff's Office or the relevant arresting agency. Requests should be submitted in writing and include the subject's full name, date of birth, and approximate date of arrest.

Can They Be Found Online The Garfield County Sheriff's Office may publish current inmate photographs on its official website as part of the inmate roster. Third-party websites may also aggregate and publish booking photographs obtained from public records; however, the accuracy and currency of information on such sites cannot be verified by official agencies.

Obtaining Mugshots Officially Official copies of booking photographs may be obtained by submitting a written public records request to the Garfield County Sheriff's Office. A fee may be assessed for reproduction of photographic records. The Colorado Judicial Branch's record and document request process may also be used to obtain photographs associated with court case files.

Restrictions on Mugshot Access Access to booking photographs may be restricted in cases where the subject's record has been sealed or expunged by court order, where the subject is a juvenile, or where disclosure would compromise an ongoing investigation. Under current law, agencies retain discretion to withhold photographs when release would be contrary to the public interest as defined under the CCJRA.

Garfield County Detention Center 107 8th Street, Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 (970) 945-0453 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Garfield County Detention Center