Jefferson County Busted Mugshots

Jefferson County busted mugshots and jail records are kept by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office in Golden, Colorado. The sheriff runs the county jail at 200 Jefferson County Parkway. All bookings go through this one facility. You can search for current inmates through the county's online lookup tool, which shows charges, bond amounts, and court dates. Jefferson County is west of Denver and home to Lakewood, Arvada, and Wheat Ridge. The sheriff's office updates its inmate data every 15 minutes. This page explains how to search for mugshots in Jefferson County, where to find booking records, and what steps to take when you need arrest information.

Jefferson County Inmate Lookup

The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office runs a free inmate lookup tool on its website. You can search by name or pull up a list of inmates booked in on a given day. Results show charges, bond amounts, and court dates for each person. The tool only shows people who are in custody right now. If a name does not come up, that person is not at the Jefferson County jail. They may have been released or booked under a different name. The data refreshes every 15 minutes, so check back if your first search turns up nothing.

The Jefferson County inmate lookup database is the main search tool for finding who is in the jail right now.

Start your search here. Type at least three letters of the last name for the best results.

The sheriff's site tips say the best way to find someone is to type at least the first three letters of their last name. For example, "joh" would bring back "johnson" and "johnston" and any other match. You do not need a full name. Jefferson County busted mugshots and booking records are public under Colorado law. Anyone can use this tool at any time. There is no fee to search. Inmates under 18 do not show up in the results, per the sheriff's policy on juvenile records.

Note: The Jefferson County inmate lookup only shows current inmates and updates every 15 minutes.

Jefferson County Booking Records

The Jefferson County Inmate Lookup Tool page explains how the search works and what to expect from the results.

This page gives step-by-step details on using the Jefferson County search tool.

When someone gets arrested in Jefferson County, they are brought to the jail at 200 Jefferson County Parkway in Golden. The booking process records their name, charges, and personal details. A booking photo is taken at that time. This mugshot becomes part of their arrest record. The jail lobby is open seven days a week from 8am to 9pm, though it closes on some holidays. Booking happens around the clock regardless of lobby hours. The phone number for the jail is (303) 271-5444 if you need to call about a specific inmate or a recent booking in Jefferson County.

Jefferson County booking records are public because of the Colorado Criminal Justice Records Act, found at C.R.S. 24-72-301 through 309. This law says records of official action must be open. An arrest is an official action. So are charges, bond decisions, and court dispositions. The CCJRA gives the public a clear right to see this information. You do not have to say why you want it. That said, if you want records beyond what shows up in the online lookup tool, you will need to go through the Jefferson County Records Unit. The online tool is just for current inmates.

Mugshot Records in Jefferson County

The Jefferson County inmates page on the sheriff's website serves as the main hub for jail and inmate services.

Use this page to find links to the lookup tool, jail rules, and contact info.

Former inmate information is not on the online tool. If you need mugshots or booking records for someone who has already been released from the Jefferson County jail, you have to contact the Records Unit. Put your request in writing. Be specific about the name and the date of arrest if you know it. Under the Colorado Open Records Act (C.R.S. 24-72-201 to 206), the first hour of staff time for pulling records is free. After that, Jefferson County can charge up to $41.37 per hour. Copies cost $0.25 per page. The county has three business days to respond to a records request.

The Get Inmate Information page on the Jefferson County site walks you through how to get details on people held at the jail.

This page covers what info is available and how to reach the right department.

You can also try the Colorado Internet Criminal History Check for a statewide name-based search. This tool costs $6.00 per search and pulls up Colorado arrest history from the CBI database. It will not give you a mugshot, but it can confirm arrests and charges tied to Jefferson County or anywhere else in the state. Sealed records and most juvenile records will not show up. For a full fingerprint-based check, you need to go through an approved vendor.

Jefferson County Arrest Record Access

Colorado is an open records state. The CCJRA page on the CBI website lays out the rules for how criminal justice agencies share records. As defined in C.R.S. 24-72-302, records of official action include arrests, charges, dispositions, and sentencing. Jefferson County must provide these records when asked. Other criminal justice records, like investigative notes or internal files, are at the sheriff's discretion.

There is one big catch. You have to sign a form saying you will not use the records for direct business solicitation. This is the pecuniary gain rule under C.R.S. 24-72-305.5. It is meant to stop companies from using arrest data to sell services to people who just got booked. If you refuse to sign, the agency can deny your request. This rule applies to all criminal justice records in Colorado, not just Jefferson County.

For Jefferson County mugshots that are no longer in the online tool, call (303) 271-5444. The jail staff can direct you to the Records Unit. You can also visit the jail lobby in person at 200 Jefferson County Parkway in Golden during open hours. Bring your written request and any details you have about the arrest. The more specific you are, the faster the staff can find what you need.

Note: Jefferson County charges standard CORA fees for records that take more than one hour to pull.

Sealing Records in Jefferson County

Colorado law allows people to seal their arrest records. This applies to Jefferson County busted mugshots too. Under C.R.S. 24-72-703, you can petition a court to seal your criminal record if you meet certain conditions. The filing fee is $224. Courts can waive it for low income. Once sealed, a record will not show up in public searches. Law enforcement and prosecutors can still see it, but the general public cannot.

If charges were never filed after an arrest in Jefferson County, the CBI may seal those records on its own. For arrests made after January 1, 2022, CBI handles automatic sealing within 60 days after one year has passed. Drug conviction records may also qualify for automatic sealing under C.R.S. 24-72-704. The rules are different based on the type of offense and how long ago it happened. Talk to a lawyer if you think your Jefferson County arrest record should be sealed. The sealing process does not erase the record from existence. It just blocks public access to it.

Jefferson County Mugshot Resources

The Jefferson County Sheriff's website also links to inmate lookup tools for other Colorado counties. This can help if you are not sure which county handled a particular booking.

The other counties page on the Jefferson County inmate lookup site has links to jail search tools across Colorado.

Use this page if you need to check jails in neighboring counties from one spot.

Beyond the sheriff's inmate tool, you can use the Colorado Department of Corrections Offender Search for anyone sentenced to state prison. This covers people who are no longer in the Jefferson County jail but are serving time in a state facility. The DOC search shows photos, current location, and conviction details. It is free and open to the public. The state also keeps historical mugshots through the Colorado State Archives corrections records collection, which has booking photos for older cases.

Colorado passed HB 14-1047 to deal with predatory mugshot websites. Under this law, it is illegal to charge people a fee to take down their booking photos. If a site asks you to pay for removal of a Jefferson County mugshot, that is a violation. You can demand free removal in writing. If the site refuses, you may be entitled to up to $1,000 per violation plus court costs. This applies when charges were dropped, never filed, or the person was found not guilty.

Cities in Jefferson County

Jefferson County has several cities with populations over 25,000. All use the Jefferson County jail for bookings and custody. Lakewood is the largest. Arvada sits partly in Jefferson County and partly in Adams County. Wheat Ridge is also here. Each city has its own police, but arrests go through the Jefferson County booking process at the jail in Golden.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Jefferson County. If you are not sure which county handled an arrest, check the booking location or call the jail at (303) 271-5444.