Elbert County Inmate Population Overview
The Elbert County inmate population is reported through one local detention facility: the Elbert County Jail, operated by the Elbert County Sheriff's Office in Kiowa. Sheriff Tim Norton's office is the local jail operator and records custodian for many custody records. Official county sources did not identify a separate work-release annex, municipal jail, state prison, federal prison, or ICE detention facility inside Elbert County. A person arrested by the sheriff, Elizabeth Police, Simla Police, Colorado State Patrol, or certain state and federal agencies may be held at the county jail, while sentenced state prisoners move into the separate Colorado Department of Corrections system.
State jail data supplies the most precise public count. The Colorado Division of Criminal Justice Office of Research and Statistics jail population dashboard defines average daily population as the daily confined count across a year divided by the number of days. It also tracks operational capacity, bookings, deaths, sentenced status, demographic fields, and first-day-quarter snapshots. For Elbert County, those ORS figures are stronger than a live web roster because the county does not publish an official online roster page in the sources reviewed.
The official ORS jail population page is the source for statewide jail data used here.
The dashboard context is important because Elbert County uses phone roster access for current custody, while ORS supplies the public population figures.
Elbert County Inmate Population Statistics
Latest located ORS data for 2025 Q3 reported an Elbert County Jail average daily population of 20, operational capacity of 38, and 35 physical beds. The first-day-quarter snapshot listed 17 confined inmates. The same ORS dataset reported 107 bookings and 0 deaths in the prior quarter. These figures are county-jail figures, not state-prison or federal custody totals, because no state DOC, BOP, or ICE facility was found in Elbert County official facility lists.
| Measure | Figure | Source / Year |
|---|---|---|
| Average daily population | 20 | Colorado DCJ ORS jail population CSV, 2025 Q3 |
| Operational capacity | 38 | Colorado DCJ ORS jail population CSV, 2025 Q3 |
| Physical beds | 35 | Colorado DCJ ORS jail population CSV, 2025 Q3 |
| First-day-quarter snapshot | 17 confined inmates | Colorado DCJ ORS jail population CSV, 2025 Q3 |
| Bookings in prior quarter | 107 | Colorado DCJ ORS jail population CSV, 2025 Q3 |
| Local jail ADP rate | About 65.5 per 100,000 residents | Calculated from ORS ADP 20 and Census July 1, 2025 estimate |
Elbert County Inmate Population Trends
The Elbert County inmate population trend is small enough that a few people can change the annual pattern. ORS quarterly ADP values show a simple average near the mid-20s from 2020 through 2022, a marked drop in 2023, and a gradual rise during 2024 and 2025. The research did not locate an official source explaining the 2023 decline, so the trend should be read as reported data rather than a proved cause-and-effect story.
County budget material adds useful context without replacing ORS. Elbert County's OpenGov detentions narrative said the new judicial district and bond schedule changes were expected to increase daily jail population, although the county did not see a large increase in 2025. It also said many felons were convicted and transferred to state corrections facilities. Those state transfers move people out of the county jail count and into CDOC custody.
| Year | Quarterly ADP Values | Simple Quarterly Average | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 24, 23, 24, 25 | 24.0 | Capacity reported as 35 all quarters. |
| 2021 | 25, 23, 25, 27 | 25.0 | Capacity reported as 35 all quarters. |
| 2022 | 28, 29, 23, 22 | 25.5 | Highest simple average in this span. |
| 2023 | 15, 12, 15, 16 | 14.0 | Sharp decline from 2020-2022. |
| 2024 | 16, 17, 18, 19 | 17.5 | Gradual increase. |
| 2025 YTD | 18, 20, 20 | 19.3 | Through Q3 only; Q3 capacity reported as 38. |
Elbert County Inmate Population Makeup
ORS reported a small 2025 Q3 first-day snapshot for the Elbert County inmate population. Counts should be read as counts first, not broad demographic conclusions. The snapshot listed 17 confined inmates: 12 male and 5 female, 15 White, 1 Black, 1 Native American, 1 Hispanic, and 16 non-Hispanic. Custody-status fields showed 6 sentenced inmates, 2 unsentenced inmates with a hold, and 9 unsentenced inmates without a hold.
- Sentenced and unsentenced custody - ORS listed 6 sentenced inmates and 11 unsentenced inmates in the 2025 Q3 snapshot.
- Pretrial no-hold cases - ORS listed 7 pretrial felony no-hold inmates and 2 pretrial misdemeanor no-hold inmates.
- Sex fields - The same snapshot listed 12 male inmates, 5 female inmates, and 0 in the other-gender field.
- Homelessness field - ORS listed 3 homeless snapshot inmates for Elbert County in 2025 Q3.
County context helps frame those figures. U.S. Census QuickFacts estimated Elbert County at 30,534 residents on July 1, 2025, up from 26,062 in the 2020 Census. The county covers more than 1,850 square miles. A jail ADP near 20 therefore serves a growing, rural county with long travel distances to Kiowa.
Elbert County Jail Capacity
Elbert County's latest official state data does not show overcrowding by either ADP or snapshot. ORS 2025 Q3 reported operational capacity of 38 and ADP of 20, which is about 52.6 percent utilization. The same quarter reported 17 confined inmates on the first-day snapshot, about 44.7 percent of operational capacity. The capacity wording should stay precise: operational capacity is not the same as physical beds, and ORS separately listed 35 physical beds.
Building condition is a separate issue from crowding. County OpenGov budget narrative described the jail as roughly 40 years old, said three jail doors were replaced in 2025, and noted almost constant plumbing repairs. Those are county operational details, not population-count data. The same narrative said electronic tablets were added for inmate use at no cost to the county and that deputies assist inmates with private Webex attorney visits.
Laws Governing Elbert County Inmate Data
Colorado public-records law affects both jail population numbers and individual custody records. For the Elbert County inmate population, the key distinction is between public data that must be maintained or reported and records that may be released, withheld, redacted, or routed to the prosecutor because an active criminal case is pending. The sheriff records page cites Colorado public-records and criminal-justice records statutes for inspection, copying, photographing, and release decisions.
Key Statutes:
C.R.S. 24-72-201 through 206 - Colorado's public-records framework applies to non-criminal-justice public records.
C.R.S. 24-72-301 through 309 - Criminal justice records, including many sheriff records, are handled under CCJRA.
C.R.S. 17-26-118 - Colorado jail keepers must maintain daily records and submit quarterly population, capacity, bookings, and death data.
C.R.S. 24-72-305.5 - Colorado defines booking photographs and restricts pay-to-remove booking-photo use.
Colorado's jail standards work also affects local jail operations. The General Assembly's 2024 jail standards final report says adopted Colorado jail standards must be complied with by July 1, 2026. No separate Elbert County accreditation status was located in the research.
Elbert County and State Prison Custody
The Elbert County inmate population does not include a state prison physically located in the county. CDOC's public facility/contact list did not show a Colorado Department of Corrections prison in Elbert County. A sentenced person from an Elbert County case may still leave the jail and enter the statewide prison system after conviction or transfer. At that point, the correct search path is the CDOC offender search, not the Elbert County Jail phone roster.
CDOC search is built around DOC number, last name, first name, gender, and a required captcha/count prompt. Search tips say DOC numbers are numeric up to six characters and that first and last name searches use begins-with matching. CDOC also warns that its database can contain inaccurate information and that users should contact CDOC to confirm. The county jail remains the better starting point for new arrests, pretrial detention, county sentences, and recent bookings.
Search the Elbert County Inmate Population
Elbert County's current jail roster is not an online search form in the official sources reviewed. The official jail FAQ says the roster is available by calling the main information line with the inmate's full name and date of birth. That phone roster is the primary local access channel. Written booking reports, mug shots, incident reports, CAD records, dispatch audio, and other records use the sheriff criminal justice records request process.
The official jail FAQ explains the local phone roster route.
Because the roster is by phone, a complete name and date of birth matter more than web filters or sorting tools.
- Decide whether the person is most likely in Elbert County Jail, CDOC state prison, BOP federal custody, or ICE custody.
- For a new local arrest, call the Elbert County Sheriff's Office main information line at 303-621-2027.
- Give the inmate's full name and date of birth, as the official FAQ instructs.
- Ask what public custody, bond, booking, visit, or court information can be released.
- If written records are needed, submit the sheriff records request form by email, mail, or in person.
Current Elbert County Inmate Lookup
Current inmate lookup in Elbert County is a phone-based search. The county did not publish online roster filters, profile pages, booking-date sorting, or a public recent-bookings feed in the official sources reviewed. The phone lookup covers current county jail custody, not state prison or federal custody. If the person has been sentenced to CDOC, transferred to federal custody, or held by ICE, a different locator is needed.
| Field Label | Type | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inmate full name | Phone-provided text | Yes | Caller must provide the name when calling 303-621-2027. |
| Date of birth | Phone-provided date | Yes | The FAQ says callers should be prepared with DOB. |
| Button label | Not applicable | Not applicable | No official online Elbert County roster button was located. |
| Search filters | Not applicable | Not applicable | No public online filters were found in official county sources. |
Past Elbert County Inmate Records
Released or past inmate records are not handled through a public Elbert County online archive in the research. The county roster route is for current custody by phone. For a written booking report, mug shot, incident report, photos, CAD, dispatch audio, citation, local background check, or related record, use the Elbert County Sheriff's Office Criminal Justice Records Requests process.
The sheriff requires a completed records request form. Requests may be submitted in person at 751 Ute Avenue, by mail to P.O. Box 486 in Kiowa, or by email to sorecords@elbertcounty-co.gov. Complete requests are processed in order received and may take up to 3 working days, with possible extension for unusually extensive circumstances. If the case is active and pending court disposition, the requester may be referred to the District Attorney's Office for discovery.
Elbert County Inmate Record Fields
Because Elbert County does not publish an official online jail profile, the public could not inspect a sample county roster record. The best local inventory comes from the sheriff records request form and Colorado jail law. The request form confirms booking reports and mug shots as requestable categories. C.R.S. 17-26-118 requires Colorado jail keepers to maintain daily records with identity, DOB, charges by code section and jurisdiction, sentence term, bond amount if set, release date, capacity, inmate counts, deaths, and bookings.
| Field | What It Shows |
|---|---|
| Name and DOB | Required for the phone roster and included in Colorado daily jail record requirements. |
| Case or booking number | Used on sheriff records request forms when known; public format was not published. |
| Booking report | Requestable sheriff record category, subject to release rules and fees. |
| Mug shot or booking photo | Requestable category; the updated sheriff fee schedule lists $2 plus research fee. |
| Charges | State-required daily record category by code section and jurisdiction. |
| Bond amount | State-required daily record field when bond has been set. |
| Release date | State-required daily record field, but not shown in an online Elbert roster. |
Elbert County Jail vs State Prison
Search errors often come from using the right name in the wrong system. The Elbert County Jail covers local pretrial custody, county-level sentenced inmates, and arrestees brought in by local and state agencies. CDOC covers sentenced state prisoners after transfer. BOP covers federal sentenced inmates and ICE ODLS covers certain immigration detention. VINELink is available for custody notifications in Colorado, but Elbert-specific current custody should still be confirmed through the jail phone line.
| Elbert County Jail | Colorado DOC | Federal / ICE | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who is held | Pretrial detainees and county-jail sentenced inmates | Sentenced state prisoners | Federal inmates or immigration detainees |
| Run by | Elbert County Sheriff's Office | Colorado Department of Corrections | BOP or ICE |
| Where to look | Phone roster at 303-621-2027 | CDOC offender search | BOP locator or ICE ODLS |
| What it will not show | State-prison or federal custody after transfer | New county jail bookings | County jail mugshots or local bond details |
State and Federal Inmate Search
The Colorado.gov locate inmate service points to CDOC for state prison searches. CDOC profiles may show DOC number, demographic identifiers, custody location, and service links, but the public search is captcha-protected and should be confirmed with CDOC. Colorado VINELink can support custody-status notification where available, and the 23rd Judicial District Attorney links to VINELink for county jail custody. For Elbert County, the jail phone roster remains the official current-custody route.
Federal custody uses different systems. The BOP locator searches federal inmates incarcerated from 1982 to present by number or name and may show name, register number, age, race, sex, release date, and location. ICE ODLS searches current ICE custody and CBP custody over 48 hours, but it cannot search people under 18. Neither BOP nor ICE is a public Elbert County jail mugshot gallery.
Elbert County Detention Facilities
The Facility Map resolves one detention facility page for Elbert County. The county jail is the central local custody point for sheriff arrests and for arrestees from Elizabeth, Simla, Colorado State Patrol, and other state or federal law-enforcement agencies when booked locally. No official source located a separate Elbert County city jail, regional jail, work-release annex, state prison, BOP facility, or ICE detention facility.
- Elbert County Jail - adult county detention facility holding pretrial and sentenced county-jail inmates, including arrestees from local police and state agencies.
Elbert County Inmate Population FAQ
How large is the Elbert County inmate population?
ORS 2025 Q3 data reported an average daily population of 20 and a first-day-quarter snapshot of 17 confined inmates at the Elbert County Jail. The same data reported operational capacity of 38 and 35 physical beds. These are local county jail figures, not CDOC, BOP, or ICE population counts.
How do I search the Elbert County inmate population?
For current county jail custody, call the Elbert County Sheriff's Office main information line at 303-621-2027 with the inmate's full name and date of birth. There was no official online Elbert County jail roster located. If written records are needed, use the sheriff records request process.
Can I look up a released inmate?
No official online released-inmate archive was found for Elbert County. Booking reports, mug shots, incident reports, and related criminal justice records may be requested from the sheriff records division when legally releasable. Court filings and formal charges use the Colorado Judicial Branch and Elbert Combined Court routes.
Where are sentenced state prisoners searched?
Sentenced state prisoners are searched through CDOC, not the county jail phone roster. CDOC has no state prison facility in Elbert County, but Elbert County defendants can enter CDOC custody after sentencing or transfer.
Does Elbert County publish mugshots online?
No official Elbert County online jail mugshot gallery was located. Booking photos are handled through the sheriff records request process when legally releasable, and Colorado law restricts pay-to-remove booking-photo use.