Montezuma County Jail

The Montezuma County Jail is located in Cortez, Colorado. This facility is operated by the Detention Division of the Montezuma County Sheriff's Department and houses adult men and women who have been arrested by local county or municipal law enforcement. 

The jail holds both pre-trial and sentenced inmates, as well as parole violators and inmates who are awaiting transport to the Colorado Department of Corrections.

The facility was built in 2001 and was designed to hold 104 inmates. The number of inmates varies on a daily basis, but the occupancy normally runs around 90% of capacity. On some occasions, the facility has had an occupancy rate as high as 143%.

Inmate Search

To find out if your loved one is being held in the Montezuma County Jail, call the facility at (970) 564-4971 or use VINE. Be prepared to provide the inmate’s full name and date of birth.

The Colorado VINE system is a service through which victims of crime can search for information regarding the custody status of their offender, and to register to receive phone calls and e-mail notifications when the offender’s custody status changes. 

The VINE toll-free number for the Colorado VINE system is (888) 263-8463. This service is provided to assist Victims of Crime who have a right to know about their offender's custody status. Click this link to register.

Bonding an Inmate out of the Montezuma County Jail

You can call the jail to find out the type of bond and the amount that is required for your inmate. The bond is set by a judge according to a court-approved schedule. The purpose is to make sure the defendant will appear at all his or her court dates. The amount of the bond is what it will take to release the inmate from jail. 

There are three types of bonds—personal recognizance (PR), surety, and cash. 

  • PR bonds are issued by the judge and only require a signature (no money). 
  • Surety bonds require a bondsman, who will pay the bond and charge you 10% to 15% of the bond amount as a fee (none of this money will be returned to you). 
  • Cash bonds must be paid in full with cash, debit/credit card, or money order. Payment is accepted online or at the jail lobby. The full amount of a cash bond is returned once all court appearances have been made.

There is a $30 booking fee and a $10 bond fee for all inmates at the Montezuma County Jail. The expectation is that these fees will be paid at the time of bonding your inmate out of jail. Colorado law does allow those fees to be charged, and you do not have to pay them at the time of bonding.

Please call the jail if you have any questions or concerns.

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Montezuma County Jail

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Visiting Hours and Rules

Visiting hours at the Montezuma County Jail are Monday through Friday between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm. All visits are non-contact and conducted through a glass partition. Inmates are allowed two visitors per day.

Visitors must sign in at least 15 minutes prior to their scheduled visit. If you schedule a visit and don't show up or arrive late, you will not be allowed to visit the rest of that week.

Physical Address

Montezuma County Jail
730 East Driscoll Street
Cortez, CO 81321

Driving Directions: https://goo.gl/maps/283LxNUeaPbxFae37

General Phone Number

(970) 564-4971

Inmate Mailing Address(es)

Montezuma County Jail
Inmate Name and Number
730 East Driscoll Street
Cortez, CO 81321

How to Call an Inmate

Inmates at the Montezuma County Jail 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

Friends and family can mail a money order directly to their inmate at the Montezuma County Jail by using the mailing address above. Another option for sending money (with a debit or credit card) is to use the kiosk in the jail lobby.

Programs For Inmates

The Montezuma County Jail has a worker-inmate program that allows approved inmate workers to provide labor for maintenance of the Sheriff’s Office and Detention Center. Worker-inmates also are used to remove litter and trash from the roadsides within Montezuma County, as members of the worker-inmate road crew. 

Inmate programs at the jail include religious services, personal ministry visitation, Alcoholics Anonymous, and a chaplain that provides spiritual counseling.

Pictures of Montezuma County Jail

Careers at Montezuma County Jail

If you are interested in a career with the Montezuma County Sheriff's Department and would like more information about the job openings at the Montezuma County Jail, click here

Detention deputies at the jail have a variety of roles, including booking and bonding, control room, medical technician, court security, inmate transports (intra and interstate), and alternative sentencing programs.

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