Montrose County Arrest Records

In Montrose County, arrests take place when there is reasonable cause to believe someone has committed a crime. Police officers from Olathe and Montrose Police Departments, including the Montrose County Sheriff's Office, execute these arrests to preserve public safety.

Arrested persons may be detained until their arraignment in court. During the arrest and booking process, arrest records, part of the broader Montrose County Court Records, are generated. They usually comprise the arrestee's physical description, booking photograph, the arresting officer, witnesses, and the circumstances of the incident. These and other public records, such as arrest warrants and criminal records, offer a glimpse into a person's interactions with the criminal justice system.

Are Arrest Records Public in Montrose County?

Yes. The Colorado Open Records Act (CORA), codified under Colorado Revised Statutes Section 24-72-201, guarantees the public's right to access all forms of records created and maintained by government agencies while conducting the "people's business".

Consequently, anyone may submit a request to obtain copies of Montrose County arrest records during official hours without stating a reason for their application.

However, the CORA allows official law enforcement custodians to restrict specific arrest records from public disclosure to ensure an equitable and fair justice/judiciary system, protect individuals' privacy rights, and preserve the lives and safety of specific persons.

Such exemptions include Social Security, bank account, debit/credit card numbers, home addresses, phone numbers, records restricted or sealed by the courts or state and federal laws, and information that may endanger the lives of peace officers, victims, witnesses, or confidential informants. Also included are records relating to juvenile offenses, names, addresses, photographs of child victims and witnesses, and records identifying confidential informants.

Requesters looking for arrest records that are available in the public domain may contact the Montrose County Sheriff's Office at:

1200 N Grand Ave
Montrose, CO 81401
Phone: (970) 252-4023
(970) 249-6606
Office Hours: Monday through Thursday, 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Montrose County Arrest Statistics

According to a 5-year crime data report by the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS), the Montrose County Sheriff’s Office made 2,137 arrests between 2019 and 2023. The gender split of the arrest data revealed that males accounted for 70.65% (1,510) of all arrests during the period, while females made up 29.35% (620).

The racial demography of all arrests in the period under review showed that Whites were the predominant racial group arrested for various offenses, with 97.42% (2,080). Blacks or African Americans, Asians, and Native Hawaiians or Other Pacific Islanders comprised 1.40% (30), 0.37% (8), and 0.04% (2) of all arrests, respectively.

Further examination of the type of offenses law enforcement officers apprehended suspects for between 2019 and 2023 revealed that all other offenses aside from traffic were the most prevalent, accounting for 54.52% (1,165). Simple assault was the second most common offense, with 11.84% (253) and driving under the influence at 9.08% (194).

Find Montrose County Arrest Records

In Montrose County, information seekers looking for inmates may utilize the following state and federal resources:

Colorado Department of Corrections (CDOC) Offender Search: This tool enables users to locate the current inmates under the CDOC's jurisdiction. Users may browse by first name, last name, gender, or DOC Number. Typical searches yield inmates' physical descriptors, booking photograph, DOC Number, estimated parole date, next parole hearing date, and current convictions.

Alternatively, requesters may submit an inmate record request to doc_open_records@state.co.us. They may also contact the CDOC at:

1250 Academy Park Loop
Colorado Springs, CO 80910
Phone: (719) 579-9580
Email: cdoc@state.co.us

Montrose County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Arrest records and criminal records are different reports; they are not synonymous. An arrest record is a government report that contains details concerning an arrest. Montrose County arrest records typically include the arrestee's personal information, the incident (including the location, nature of charges, arresting agency, and officer), and the outcome of the arrest. The existence of an arrest record does not automatically imply that an individual has committed a criminal offense.

However, criminal records, also referred to as rap sheets or criminal history checks, are detailed reports that provide a comprehensive overview of an individual's criminal history. In contrast to arrest records, criminal history records contain information regarding convictions, sentences, and other legal actions taken against an individual for criminal activity.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Colorado, arrest records may stay on someone's record indefinitely. However, the State's law permits the sealing and expunging of certain arrest records.

Arrest records that are expungeable include juvenile and underage drinking and driving records or arrest data that result from one being a victim of mistaken identity.

Conversely, prospective applicants may not get a favorable expungement outcome if they have been deemed a violent juvenile offender or an aggravated juvenile offender, if they were convicted of a traffic offense or infraction, or if they possess a sex felony conviction. Individuals who have been convicted of a homicide or related offense are also not eligible for arrest records expungement.

Montrose County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant is a legal order issued by a judge or magistrate granting law enforcement the power to detain a person suspected of committing a crime. In Montrose County, a court grants a warrant based on probable cause, supported by an affidavit explaining the alleged offense, a description of the suspect, and other necessary information.

After a suspect's arrest, law enforcement agents would book the suspect at a police department or the Montrose County Sheriff’s Office and remand them at the County Jail if the courts do not grant bail immediately.

A Montrose County arrest warrant often comprises the offense, any law codes, and the victim's identity. It is usually issued when law enforcement has gathered enough evidence to take someone into custody but needs judicial authority to execute the arrest. The warrant ensures arrests are made in line with the Fourth Amendment, preserving individuals' rights against unlawful arrest and denial of personal freedom.

Do Montrose County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. Montrose County arrest warrants have no expiry dates. They remain in force until law enforcement officials arrest the subject of the warrant, the person appears in court, or the person dies.

However, several conditions may affect the validity or duration of arrest warrants:

1. The court may quash a warrant that was issued in error or when the person named in the warrant appears in court to resolve the relevant issue.
2. Also, the prosecutor's office or law enforcement agencies may choose to discontinue a case or change the case’s objectives. These may result in the revocation of previously issued warrants.
3. When the subject of a warrant dies, the legal order becomes null and void.
4. Although arrest warrants typically do not expire, the charges they address may be subject to the statute of limitations. When the statute of limitations for the alleged offense expires, the warrant may be nullified.