Before an arrest is made in Garfield County, Colorado, the police must approach the county’s criminal court to seek an arrest warrant against a person suspected of a crime. While the alleged suspect cannot influence the warrant issuing process, you can rest assured that unless there exists significant evidence pinning the crime on you, a warrant for your arrest will not be issued.
In fact, the criminal court’s sitting magistrate in Garfield County will carefully consider all the information provided in the written affidavit from the Sheriff’s Department before signing an order for arrest.
However, once issued, this document, which is known as an active arrest warrant, will stay active regardless of how long it has been since it was sought. Warrants that are not served within a few days from the issuance are backlogged in the national criminal database. These arrest orders are then called outstanding arrest warrants.
The only time that a judge may suspend an arrest warrant is if another person has been arrested and charged with the crime or if, through the course of the investigation, it is found that the evidence presented to the court while seeking the warrant does not hold any more or is not enough.
However, it is imperative to understand that it is very rare for a court to issue an arrest warrant without diligent deliberation over the facts produced by the Sheriff’s Department.
In any case, if you are looking for arrest records data, the Sheriff’s Office is the place to go to. An appointment is not needed, so you can simply walk into the precinct at 107 8th Street, Glenwood Springs, Colorado, 81601.
Is it possible to get information on Garfield County arrest warrants and recent arrests over the phone? (2021-Update)
- In order to do a warrant search or to provide a tip on a person with an outstanding warrant call the agency at 970-945-0453.
- In order to learn about arrests, contact the Booking Desk at 970-945-1377 ext.1033.
- In order to inquire about inmate services, call 970-945-1377 ext.1049.
- In order to learn about the process for initiating a criminal background check, contact the Records Division at 970-665-0200.
- In order to connect with Victim/Witness Services, contact the Victim’s Advocate at 970-945-8635.
- In order to request certified copies of judicial records, contact the Clerk of Court at 970-928-3065.
Crime statistics of Garfield County
In 2019, Garfield County’s crime rate increased by 66%. Around 3 of the 60 complaints were filed against violent criminal acts. These involved 1 case of physical assault and 2 cases of rape. The annual crime average included about 57 complaints of property crimes. Among these were 38 cases of larceny theft, 10 of burglary and 9 of car theft.
Over the ten-year interval between 1999 and 2008, an estimated 9000 crimes were reported in Garfield, although less than 10% of them were violent in nature. The annual crime rate currently stands at over 1100, with a violent crime rate of almost 100. However, at the start of the decade, this figure stood at a measly 50 or so incidents.
Of the criminal activity in the area, most incidents are found to occur within a one-mile radius of the victim’s home or office. Add to this the approximately 5 cases of homicide and over 100 incidents of rape in the county. It is easy to understand why you need to be on your guard and go for a warrant search when associating with a person professionally or personally.