Denver City Detention Center

The Denver City Detention Center (aka the Van Cise-Simonet Detention Center or Downtown Detention Center) is located in Denver, Colorado. This facility is operated by the Denver Sheriff's Department and houses adult men and women who have been arrested by local county and municipal law enforcement.

This facility is located at 490 W. Colfax Avenue. Not to be confused with the Denver County Jail, located at 10500 East Smith Road.

Inmate Search

To find out if your loved one is being held in the Denver City Detention Center, click here, call the facility, or use VINE. 

Intake Process

The intake process includes the following steps:

• Arrested individuals are searched
• A digital mugshot and right index fingerprint are taken
• Individuals receive medical and mental health evaluations by medical staff 
• Property is inventoried and a thorough pat search and metal detector search is performed 
• Fingerprint cards are sent electronically to the Federal and Colorado Bureau of Investigations for clearance
• A check for additional warrants is made by the Denver Police Department Identification Bureau

Booking times vary, but it usually takes two to six hours for an inmate to be fully processed through the intake system. The jail has no control over how long the process will take.

ICE holds are immigration holds. Any questions regarding the ICE processes should be directed to the ICE detention center:

3130 North Oakland St.
Aurora, Colorado 80010
303-361-0723

Prison Insights

Visiting Hours and Rules

The Denver City Detention Center has both remote and on-site video visits, but does not offer in-person visits at this time. Visits are conducted through video only, either in the jail lobby (referred to as video visitations) or remotely. 

Both types of visitations must be scheduled through Securus. Visits may last up to 30 minutes, not to exceed two visits a week/one visit per day. 

Onsite Video Visitation Hours are daily:

• 7:00 am - 10:00 am
• 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
• 3:00pm - 4:00pm
• 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Remote Video Visitation Hours are daily:

• 7:00 am - 10:00 am
• 11:30 am - 2:00 pm
• 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Scheduling a remote or on-site video visit

First, you must create an account on the Securus website. You can do this at home or from a designated terminal in the lobby of the jail. If you need assistance navigating the Securus website, please visit the Securus Customer Care page for guidance.

You can schedule a video visitation that takes place in the Denver City Detention Center lobby or a video visitation from a remote location.

Remote video visitations allow family and friends to conduct video visits from anywhere using the Securus app on a computer, tablet, or mobile phone. Remote video visits are $8.99 + tax for a 30 minute visit. 

Prepare for Your Visit

Bring a non-expired, valid ID to present at check-in. Acceptable forms of ID include:

• U.S. Driver License or state issued Identification Card
• Active U.S. Military ID
• Passport
• Consulate ID

Be punctual:

• Arrive 15 minutes prior to your visit to check-in, locate a terminal, and log into the system 

No rescheduling:

• Visitation windows can not be moved once they are scheduled
• If you arrive 10 minutes late to a 30-minute visit, only 20 minutes for visitation will remain

Things you should know:

• Visitors are subject to warrant checks
• Any damage to property or other criminal actions will be prosecuted.
• Visits are monitored and recorded

Know the Rules

These are the rules for video visits that take place in the lobby of the Denver City Detention Center.

• Any visitor who smells of alcohol or appears to be intoxicated or under the influence of any drugs will not be admitted
• Any person who does not leave the facility or grounds, when directed to do so by a Denver Deputy Sheriff, will be subject to arrest and charged
• No offensive, loud, or disruptive language is allowed–unacceptable conduct is cause to immediately terminate the visit and may prevent future visits
• All minors/children must be properly supervised by a responsible adult at all times

Lobby Dress Code

All visitors to the Denver City Detention Center lobby must be fully dressed in appropriate, conventional clothing, that is not provocative, suggestive, or revealing. Clothing must not resemble inmate attire or feature accessories which could be used as a weapon.

• No bare feet
• No short skirts
• No swimwear or bikini tops
• No halter or backless shirts
• No spaghetti string tops
• No muscle shirts
• No see-through material
• No gang, obscene, profane, drug or alcohol messages on clothing
• No visible undergarments
• No wearing hats in the visitor area (religious exception)
• All shirts must have sleeves and completely cover the chest and shoulder areas
• Shorts may be worn (mid-thigh length or longer)
• Sports jerseys may be worn but should be worn over a t-shirt, or longer, if the shoulders are not completely covered

Remote Video Visitation Rules

• No nudity 
• No provocative (revealing), tight, or see-through clothing 
• No visible undergarments
• No blatant sexual actions 
• No displaying of gang signs
• No profanity
• No displaying of weapons of any type
• No displaying of drugs of any type
• No gang, obscene, profane, drug or alcohol messages on clothing
• No display of being under the influence of illegal drugs or intoxicants 
• No use of cell phone cameras or recording devices
• No visits alone with individuals under the age of 18
• No driving while using a device to visit remotely

All incoming inmate mail is opened and searched for contraband. Mail is read, censored, or rejected based on facility security and order. 

There are no restrictions on the number of letters inmates may receive. They are allowed up to 10 photographs in a six month period, beginning from the date the first photo is received. These may be up to 5"x7" in size. Photos may not contain nudity, be sexually explicit or gang related. 

No postersized cards; nothing laminated, no hard-plastic photos, no musical cards, and no stickers. Larger boxes will be returned by the U.S. post office. 

Books, magazines, and newspapers other than The Denver Post are accepted, but must come directly from the publisher or regional distributor (online retailer). No more than five books are allowed at one time, including magazines in a 30-day period. No gang related or sexually explicit material will be accepted. Tennis shoes/sneakers are not accepted unless approved.

How to Call an Inmate

Inmates at the Denver City Detention Center cannot receive incoming phone calls, however, they have access to phones and can make outgoing calls from the inmate housing area. Phone calls are recorded and may be monitored at any time.

How to Send Money

Visitors may leave money for their inmate at the Denver City Detention Center reception desk in the form of a U.S. postal money order. No cash, personal checks, SSI checks or Unemployment Insurance checks will be accepted.

The following information must be written on the money order. 

• Inmate’s full name 
• Book-in number, location, and DPD number, if known

Money orders may be dropped off at the reception desk every day between the hours of 6:00 am and 10:00 pm, or it may be mailed to the inmate.

If mailed, use the following address: 

Inmate Name and number
Denver City Detention Center
P.O. Box 1108
Denver, CO 80201 

Money may also be placed in an inmate's account via the lobby kiosk between the hours of 6:00 am and 10:00 pm. The kiosk accepts only U.S. currency in any denomination. Once the money is placed into the machine, it will immediately post to the inmate's account. You will receive a receipt for the transaction, and a service fee will apply. 

Online

Programs For Inmates

Inmates at the Denver City Detention Center have the opportunity to acquire valuable knowledge, skills, and work experience through vocational training opportunities and/or other occupational education courses.

They may also be given the opportunity to receive discretionary earned time credit by successfully completing the approved programs.

Academic Programs

GED program participants are provided the opportunity to achieve their high school equivalency diploma while in the care of the Denver Sheriff Department. When the GED Instructor is satisfied that an inmate is prepared, practice testing, and official testing for the GED is provided. 

Religious Programs and Services

Religious services are administered by volunteer ministers, priests, and others specifically designated by the Community Chaplains Council, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Denver, and other authorized religious groups. 

There are regular worship services, masses, and religious counseling sessions offered for spiritual growth and moral guidance. 

Breastfeeding Accommodations

The Denver Sheriff Department created the Inmate Lactation Support Policy with the purpose of supporting inmates in maintaining an adequate milk supply, providing expressed milk to their child(ren), and/or to safely wean and prevent serious medical complications. The DSD offers educational materials, breast pumps and supplies, as well as a dedicated lactation space.

Journaling

Self-study journals in English and Spanish, referred to as Carey Guides, are provided in the journaling program to address key life areas – thoughts and beliefs, coping/self-control skills, friends, family/relationships, alcohol and/or drug use, and use of free time. 

Denver Human Services OutreachEligibility determination for health insurance options and food assistance upon release.

Reentry Services

Services to assist inmates through case management, classes, and community resource information prior to and after being released from the Denver City Detention Center.

Mental Health Assistance

Mental health screening and therapy provided by the Denver Health team.

Alternative Sentencing and Work Release

The Alternative Sentencing Program allows inmates to maintain their employment, education, and/or treatment. The Work Search Program allows people to search for employment while in jail.

Productive Day

The Productive Day program provides educational DVD videos that are played twice daily during specific hours.

Change Pod

The program assists offenders with establishing a foundation for change that will lead to better decision making.

Yoga

Controlled exercise, meditation, and breathing.

Project Bedtime Story

Inmates voice-record bedtime story reading for young children; promotes family well-being and connection.

Pictures of Denver City Detention Center

Careers at Denver City Detention Center

If you are interested in a career with the Denver Sheriff's Department and would like more information about the job openings at the Denver City Detention Center, click here.