Pitkin County Jail

The Pitkin County Jail houses individuals who've been arrested on either misdemeanor or felony charges by all law enforcement agencies in the county. The inmates are pre-trial and/or sentenced to the jail or Department of Corrections. 

While the terms “jail” and “prison” are often used interchangeably, jails differ from prisons in that the length of stay in jails is measured in weeks rather than years. And, the majority of inmates in a jail have not been convicted of a crime.

The Pitkin County Jail recognizes that under the Constitution of the United States, pretrial inmates are considered innocent in the eyes of the law, until proven guilty. 

"Fundamental to the treatment of sentenced inmates is the concept which recognizes that persons are sentenced to jail as punishment, not for punishment," says the Pitkin County Sheriff.

Direct Supervision

The Pitkin County Jail opened in January 1984, and was the first direct supervision jail of its size in the country. Inmates are housed in 65-square feet cells with a window to the outside. They are provided with clothing, bedding, and hygiene supplies. Laundry services are provided under contract.

The research shows that 90% of inmates housed in the direct supervision environment will behave according to normal social and interpersonal expectations. Inmates who are unable to conform to these standards of behavior are separated from the general population in a more restrictive environment.

The direct supervision environment in the Pitkin County Jail includes windows that allow in outside light, carpeted floors to reduce the noise level, non-institutional furniture, and porcelain toilet fixtures.

Inmates are allowed out of their cells from 8 a.m. until lock-down at 11:00 p.m. They are free to move around the day-room, read or watch TV, play cards, and interact. Detention Officers have regular direct contact with the inmate population inside the housing area. 

Inmate Search

To find out if your loved one is being held in Pitkin County, click here, call the jail at 970-920-5331, or use VINE. Be prepared to provide the inmate’s full name and date of birth when using the VINE website.

Please be aware that some Pitkin County inmates are currently being housed at the Garfield County Jail.

To find out if your loved one has been taken to Garfield County, click here.

Colorado VINE

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.

Inmates being held for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Colorado Department of Corrections (DOC), or charges from other counties will not be found by going to the VINE Link above. You will have to call the jail.

Bonding an Inmate out of the Pitkin Jail

You can call the Pitkin 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 of a bond is to make sure the defendant will appear at all his or her court dates. The bond amount 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 is needed). 
• 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 at the jail lobby 24/7 or can be made online by clicking here. 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 Pitkin 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.

Prison Insights

Visiting Hours and Rules

The Pitkin County Detention Facility does not allow personal contact visits.  Video visitation is provided during all non-lock down times, including holidays. 

Visitation can be conducted either over the internet by using this link, or by using the locally provided kiosk in the jail. Video Visits are 20 minutes in length, and they are monitored for nudity and violations of safety and security rules.  

Detention staff reserve the right to terminate a visit for any violation and the inmate and visitor can be banned from using the video visitation system for a period of time.  

If you prefer to visit your inmate on-site at the jail, there is a kiosk in the jail lobby that is available on a first come, first served basis.  There is no cost to use this kiosk.  

You may also visit from the comfort of your home for a minimal charge using the Inmate Canteen website or app.  To be able to visit, you will need to set up an account.

For Pitkin County Inmates being Housed at the Garfield County Jail

Visiting hours at the Garfield County Jail are daily – 8:00am to 11:00am / 1:00pm to 4:00pm / 7:30pm to 10:30pm.

Public video visitation booths are located in the Jail Reception room on the North side of the building. Booths are available on a first come, first serve basis. Each visit is 15 minutes in length, and you may only visit one inmate per day. 

Dress Code

Even though visitation is conducted via video, visitors should be fully dressed in appropriate, conventional clothing which is not unduly provocative, suggestive or revealing. Jail staff may deny a visit to a person who is inappropriately dressed. 

For inmates being held at the Garfield County Jail, send their mail to the following address:

Garfield County Jail
Inmate’s Name; Inmate’s Booking Number
PO Box 30022 PMB 35803
Durham, NC  27702

How to Call an Inmate

Inmates at the Pitkin 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

InmateCanteen offers a number of convenient online services for family and friends of inmates. You can safely and securely send care packages, video visit from a remote location, and purchase credit for your loved one.

For more information, click here.

Cashiers checks or money orders may be mailed to the Inmate in the mail.  The mailing address is: 

(Inmate's Name)
Pitkin County Jail
530 East Main Street, Suite 103
Aspen, CO 81611

For inmates housed in Garfield County

You may deposit money onto an inmate's account at the Garfield County Jail by using any of the following methods. (Fees may apply. Any debt the inmate owes will be collected from deposits.)

• Visit the Money Kiosk located on the North side of the building in the Jail Reception room. This kiosk takes both cash and credit cards.
• Visit www.accesscorrections.com or use the Access Corrections Mobile App
• Call 1-866-345-1884 to make a deposit by phone.

Inmates may use their account to purchase commissary items such as candy, hygiene, stationary, and phone/tablet time.

Programs For Inmates

The Pitkin County Jail has services and programs available to enhance physical and mental wellness and encourage self rehabilitation and successful reintegration to society for all inmates.

Work Release

Inmates who are sentenced by the courts to the work release program and inmates who are granted work release status after initial incarceration in the jail's general population are eligible for the work release program.

An interview must be scheduled 14 or more days prior to reporting to jail. The fees are $30 per day for a Pitkin sentence ($210 up front and $210 every two weeks thereafter). Or, $60 per day for sentences out of county or state. With half of total payment up front and full payment due halfway through the sentence.

Pictures of Pitkin County Jail

Careers at Pitkin County Jail

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

Detention Officers provide custody and control of inmates, preserve order and discipline, and supervise inmates according to Pitkin County Sheriff's Office (PCSO) policies and procedures. Duties may vary according to job assignment.

The pay range is between $30.16-$40.56 per hour, and depends on experience.