Search Otero County Colorado Arrest Records

Otero County arrest records are kept by the Otero County Sheriff's Office in La Junta, Colorado. The sheriff handles all bookings at the county jail and keeps logs of each arrest made in the county. You can search for arrest records through the sheriff's office directly or use statewide tools run by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. Otero County sits in the Arkansas River Valley in southeastern Colorado, and the 16th Judicial District court handles criminal cases that come from local arrests. This page covers every way to find Otero County arrest records.

Otero County Sheriff Arrest Records

The Otero County Sheriff's Office is the main source for local arrest records. The office is at 13 West 3rd Street, La Junta, CO 81050. You can call them at (719) 384-5941 to ask about arrest records or jail bookings. The sheriff keeps booking logs for everyone brought into the Otero County jail. Each log has the person's name, date of arrest, charges, and bond amount.

To get a copy of an Otero County arrest record, you can go in person to the sheriff's office during business hours. You can also call and ask what steps are needed for your specific request. The Colorado Criminal Justice Records Act says records of official action must be open to the public. That means basic arrest data, like who was booked and on what charges, is public in Otero County. The sheriff may charge a small fee for copies.

Otero County arrest records also get sent to the state. When someone is fingerprinted during a booking, that data goes to the CBI. So the same arrest that shows in the local log will also appear in the statewide criminal history database after processing.

How to Search Otero County Criminal Records Online

Otero County does not run a public inmate search tool on its website. For online access to Otero County arrest records, you have a few options. The best statewide tool is the CBI online criminal history check. It costs $6.00 per name search. This pulls from the fingerprint database that covers all 64 Colorado counties, including Otero County.

The CBI criminal history check shows arrests, charges, and case dispositions from across the state. If someone was arrested in Otero County and fingerprinted, it will show in this system. You get results fast. The search runs against the CBI database in real time and you can pay with a credit card.

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation runs the main criminal records database for the state. You can learn more about their services at cbi.colorado.gov. This is the same database that law enforcement agencies in Otero County use to check criminal histories during investigations.

You can see the CBI's online records check portal below.

The CBI system covers arrests from every county in Colorado, making it a good option when you are not sure where someone was booked.

Otero County Court Records and Criminal Cases

Otero County is part of the 16th Judicial District. The combined court in La Junta handles all criminal cases that start with an Otero County arrest. Court records are separate from arrest records, but they often tie together. An arrest in Otero County leads to charges filed in court, and the court record shows what happened after the arrest.

You can search Otero County court records through the Colorado Judicial Branch records search. This free tool lets you look up cases by name or case number. It covers district, county, and municipal courts across Colorado. For Otero County criminal cases, look for the 16th Judicial District listings.

The Otero County Combined Court is at 13 West 3rd Street, Room 207, La Junta, CO 81050. You can call the clerk at (719) 384-4951. Court staff can help you find specific case files tied to Otero County arrests. Walk-in requests are handled during regular court hours.

Records Requests Under the CCJRA in Otero County

The Colorado Criminal Justice Records Act sets the rules for how arrest records are shared in Otero County. Under this law, records of official action are open to the public. That includes arrest reports, booking data, and charges filed. You have a right to inspect these records at the Otero County Sheriff's Office.

Some parts of arrest records may be sealed or restricted. Juvenile arrest records are not public. Records that are part of an ongoing investigation can be held back. If your request is denied, the CCJRA gives you the right to appeal. You can learn more about the open records process through the Colorado Department of Public Safety open records page.

The screenshot below shows the Colorado open records request process that applies to Otero County and all other counties in the state.

Fees for copies of Otero County arrest records depend on the type of record and how many pages you need. Ask the sheriff's office for a fee schedule before you submit a formal request.

Otero County Inmate and Custody Search

If you need to find out whether someone is currently in the Otero County jail, call the sheriff's office at (719) 384-5941. They can tell you if a person is in custody and what their bond status is. The jail books people arrested by the sheriff's department and by local police departments in La Junta, Rocky Ford, and other Otero County towns.

You can also check the Colorado VINE system to track an inmate's custody status. VINE stands for Victim Information and Notification Everyday. It sends you alerts when someone's status changes in the jail. This is a free service. You can sign up for phone, email, or text alerts. VINE covers the Otero County jail along with other facilities across Colorado.

Otero County Sex Offender Arrest Records

The Colorado Sex Offender Registry lists registered offenders living in Otero County. The CBI runs this database. It updates every hour. You can search by name or by area to see who is registered in Otero County. The registry shows conviction details, addresses, and photos when available.

Not every sex offender appears on the public list. Only those meeting certain criteria are posted. Contact the Otero County Sheriff for a complete list of registered offenders in the area. Sex offender records overlap with arrest records since every registration ties back to an original arrest and conviction.

Colorado DOC Inmate Search for Otero County Cases

Some people arrested in Otero County end up in state prison. The Colorado Department of Corrections offender search lets you look up inmates in state custody. This is useful if an Otero County arrest led to a prison sentence. You can search by name or DOC number. Results show the inmate's facility, sentence length, and projected release date.

The DOC search is free and open to everyone. It covers current inmates and some who have been released. For people still held at the county level in Otero County, the sheriff's office is your best contact. The DOC only tracks those sentenced to state prison.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Otero County. Each one has its own sheriff and arrest records system. You can check their pages for local booking and warrant information.