Dear City and County of Denver Community,
I would like to take this opportunity to introduce the Denver Sheriff Department’s new “Guide for Family and Friends of Those In Our Care.”
The mission of the Denver Sheriff Department (DSD) is to provide safe and secure custody for those placed in our care and to perform all our duties in a manner that is responsive to the needs of our diverse community. As part of this mission, we are striving to bridge the gap between incarcerated individuals and their support systems in the community. In addition, we continue to embrace and incorporate the philosophy of “Leading with our Humanity.”
The “Guide for Family and Friends of Those Incarcerated” is a resource to help those with incarcerated loved ones navigate the City and County of Denver Detention Facilities. We’ve included information about intake and reception, locating an incarcerated individual, visitation and emergencies, programming available to individuals in DSD custody, contact information, and much more.
As part of our responsibility to provide a safe and secure environment, we have regulations and policies in place regarding visitation and contact with incarcerated individuals. This is especially important in the context of a global COVID-19 pandemic. We ask you to please use this guide to learn more about these regulations and policies. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to one of our team members listed in the contact information section.
Family connections and other support systems are critical to the success of an individual returning to the community following incarceration. Your role is vital to the success of your loved one, and DSD is committed to supporting opportunities for you to maintain contact during their period of incarceration.
Sincerely,
Sheriff Elias Diggins
Denver Sheriff Department
The Programs Team provides support and resources to assist people in maintaining connections with family and friends to provide opportunities around successful transition to the community. Community connections are the most important factor in helping people stay out of incarceration. Several national studies show that incarcerated individuals with family support before and throughout incarceration were less likely to reoffend than those without family support.
Mission
Together the Programs Team builds opportunities around successful transition to the community.
Vision
To meet the needs of individuals to benefit the community by empowering individuals to become productive community members through collaboration with community-based partners.
Contact
You may email the Programs Team at DSDPrograms@denvergov.org.
The intake process includes the following steps:
- Persons are searched.
- A digital mugshot and right index fingerprint are taken.
- Individuals receive medical and mental health evaluations by medical staff.
- Property is inventoried and a thorough pat search and metal detector search is performed.
- Fingerprint cards are sent electronically to the Federal and Colorado Bureau of Investigations for clearance.
- A check for additional warrants is made by the Denver Police Department Identification Bureau once fingerprints are classed and searched.
Booking times vary as many things can prolong the identification process–it usually takes 2 - 6 hours to be fully processed through the intake system. The jail personnel have no control over how long the process will take.
To appropriately classify individuals who enter our correctional facilities, we use two models: Direct Supervision and Objective Classification. For more information on these models, visit the National Institute of Corrections website.
Direct Supervision
The Direct Supervision model combines two key elements:
- The physical design of the jail and housing units.
- Individual in DSD custody management strategy.
Direct supervision jails focus on actively managing the behavior of those in their care to ensure a safe and secure environment for individuals in DSD custody, staff, and visitors.
Staff interact continuously with individuals in the housing units, actively supervising them to identify problems in their early stages. They use basic management techniques to prevent negative behavior and encourage positive behavior. Staff assume control of the jail and establish a professional supervisory relationship with individuals in DSD custody. There are no barriers separating staff and individuals living in the housing units.
The physical design of the jail supports the management of individuals behavior by reducing physical barriers that impede upon staff and individual’s interaction and ensures clear sightlines into all areas of the housing units. Incorporating certain design elements in fixtures and furnishings promotes positive behavior, as well.
Objective Classification
Objective Classification relies on a narrow set of well-defined, standardized factors to determine housing and program needs within the jail. Some of these factors are:
- Severity of current offense.
- Prior convictions.
- Prior incarcerations.
- Institutional behavior.
To locate a loved one after incarceration, visit https://www.denvergov.org/InmateSearch or call (720) 913-3600.
Can't find the person you're looking for in Denver? Try these other resources:
All family emergencies must go through the facility notification system. If you have a death in the family or an emergency, call the information line at (720) 913-3600. Notify the call taker that there is a death in the family or an emergency and ask to speak to a supervisor.
Remote and lobby video visitations for both the Denver Detention Center (DDC) and Denver County Jail (COJL) must be scheduled through Securus at least 24 hours in advance. If you don’t have the resources to create or update a Securus account, registration kiosks are available in the DDC and COJL lobbies.
For facility hours of operation, as well as details on how to prepare for any type of visit, please refer to the Find & Visit Someone In Our Care webpage.
Securus
Follow the guidelines on the Find & Visit Someone In Our Care webpage to set up an account in Securus.
If you need assistance navigating the Securus website, you can visit the Securus Customer Care webpage for guidance.
Remote Video Visitations
This option – remote video visits, rather than lobby video visits – allows family and friends to conduct video visits from anywhere, using the Securus app on a computer, tablet, or mobile phone. Remote video visits are $8.99 + tax for a 30-minute visit and visitation hours vary by facility. To learn more about remote video visitations, check out the Securus website or call (877) 578-3658.
In-Person Visitations
In-person visits are for the COJL only. They may last up to 30 minutes, not to exceed two visits a week at one visit per day. For in-person visitation eligibility, days, and hours, please visit the Find & Visit Someone In Our Care webpage.
To send mail to an individual in custody, address mail to the following:
First & Last Name, CD #
Denver Sheriff Department
P.O. Box 1108
Denver, CO 80201
NOTE: Mail addressed directly to the Downtown Detention Center or the County Jail will be returned to the sender.
When sending stationery, books, or religious materials, you can mail books to an individual directly from a store or publisher, but you cannot physically bring in stationery, books, or religious items to DSD facilities. Those in our care are allowed up to ten (10) photographs in a six (6) month period, beginning from the date the first photo is received. Photos should not be larger than 5" x 7".
To receive calls from someone in our care, you will need to have an account with Securus Technologies. You can do this by following the guidelines on the Find & Visit Someone In Our Care webpage or by calling 800-844-6591.
The Denver Sheriff Department offers several programs for incarcerated individuals, including those listed below.
Case Management and Reentry Planning
The Denver Sheriff Department case management team works with incarcerated clients to identify jail-based and community resources based on the individual’s expressed needs. This may include identifying and enrolling in jail-based classes and programming: identifying and applying for community-based programs; connecting to community-based substance use and mental health treatment; identifying housing opportunities such as sober living; and developing release plans.
Reentry Program
In collaboration with the Second Chance Center and other community providers, the Reentry Program is comprised of various classes and cognitive behavioral treatments to provide people the opportunity to gain resources and skills necessary to make improved life choices to lead more responsible and productive lives.
RISE (Recovery in a Secure Environment)
RISE is based on principles that include social learning theory, cognitive behavioral treatment, and life skills concepts. Utilization of evidence-based curriculum provides tools for recovery and fosters self-efficacy in a structured peer-to-peer learning environment. RISE is an intensive jail-to-community transition program. Partnerships with providers afford opportunities for continuity of care as someone transitions to the community upon release. The goal of the program is to reduce the number of substance-use related arrests through provision of peer-to-peer based recovery support services. Participants are in programming for six to eight hours per day, five days per week.
GED
In conjunction with the Learning Source, classes, test preparation, and testing is offered to people who don’t have a high school diploma or GED. In addition, people can continue classes and/or testing with GED providers upon release. Classes
Substance Use Education
In conjunction with community providers, the Denver Sheriff Department offers homework-based substance use curricula. This includes information, tools, and resources to identify problematic using behavior and implement improved decision-making skills to reduce the risk of future relapse.
Cognitive Behavioral Intervention/Education
Cognitive Behavioral Intervention (CBI) helps individuals understand their thoughts and feelings that influence behaviors and how to change your thoughts which can in turn change your behaviors that will lead to better outcomes.
Conflict Resolutions
Anger management is a program for anger prevention and control. Anger is frequently a result of frustration, or of feeling blocked or thwarted from something the subject feels is important. Anger can also be a defensive response to underlying fear or feelings of vulnerability or powerlessness. This class helps educate the individual about anger and how to effectively manage anger and emotions.
Parenting
Parents on a Mission is a parental leadership movement that aims to equip parents to win the heart, mind, and loyalty of their children. All families encounter problems and tough situations from time to time. Participants will learn the skills of reconciliation that brings the healing needed to restore the joy of a united family.
Additional classes and program services may be offered through community partners or DSD staff based on COVID-19 operating status and funding. These may include Healthy Relationships, Financial Health, Job Readiness, Parenting, Yoga, MRT (Moral Reconation Therapy), and various other programs.
Confined Voter Program
Individuals who are incarcerated in DSD facilities prior to elections are eligible to register to vote and to vote by mail. The voting program was born of a partnership between the Denver Elections Division, Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition, and the DSD. The League of Women Voters joined the partnership in 2020.
Religious Services
The Religious Services staff is responsible for assuring people can participate in religious practices deemed essential to their faith while incarcerated. This is accomplished through the leadership of the Programs Chaplain and trained religious services volunteers, representing churches and other faith-based organizations in the community. Religious services include bible study, religious studies, worldview classes, and more.
On a weekly basis, services and bible studies are held.
Annually, hundreds of people receive individual religious counseling through the Sheriff Department chaplains and/or volunteers from various faith-based organizations.
When a religious leader of an individual faith is not represented through volunteers, the chaplain assists the individual in contacting such a person.
In addition, local churches and/or charitable organizations donate most religious reading materials distributed in the jails.
The Denver Sheriff Department is fortunate to have the support of numerous religious leaders in the community to provide services to people of different faiths.
Religious Diets
We provide religious meals that are reviewed by certified personnel to ensure adherence to religious requirements. We are also observant of food needs for religious holidays.
Lactation Support
It is the policy of the Denver Sheriff Department (DSD) to provide education and support to breastfeeding individuals and to facilitate the provision of breastmilk as a food source for their children during their period of incarceration.
The DSD acknowledges the health benefits of breastfeeding for both parents and children and strives to ensure that these benefits are not interrupted due to incarceration.
Breastfeeding individuals require access to the appropriate materials, education, and equipment for the management of milk production, prevention of breast infection, and pain relief. Individuals are entitled to express milk in a respectful and safe location, and other resources as necessary.
It is the mission of the Denver Sheriff Food Service Department to ensure that all individuals housed in our facilities receive meals that are nutritionally balanced, diverse, and prepared and served in the manner that upholds industry standards for health and safety.
Meals
Individuals receive three meals per day (breakfast, lunch & dinner). Food is prepared daily under controlled sanitary conditions. All meals have been approved by an independent Registered Dietician to ensure balance and variety.
Special Medical Diets
Our partnership with the Medical Department provides immediate communication for individuals with special dietary and health needs. Special medical diets are verified before all mealtimes.
Commissary allows individuals to purchase items through our commissary provider every other week. Items range from hygiene items to food items. Family members can add money to the individuals accounts as followed.
There are three ways to place money on an individual’s account:
- Payments can be made by cash or credit card by kiosk located at the Downtown Detention Facility located at 490 Colfax Denver, CO 80206. You must have the individual in DSD custody criminal descriptor Number (CD #) to place money on their account. CD numbers can be located on the offender look up.
- Payments in the form of postal money orders can be dropped off at the information desk at each facility. The individual’s name and CD # need to be written on the money order to be applied to the correct person.
- Money can be placed on an individual’s account by going to Access Correction. You will need the CD # to complete this transaction.
Money can be withdrawn from an individual’s account if the individual agrees to it and the has sufficient funds on their account. A valid government issued ID will be required to make this request.
Healthcare is provided by Denver Health. Denver Health is a comprehensive, integrated organization providing level one care for all, regardless of ability to pay. Twenty-five percent of all Denver residents, or approximately 150,000 individuals, receive their health care at Denver Health. One in three children in Denver is cared for by Denver Health physicians as well.
As Colorado's primary safety net institution, Denver Health has provided billions of dollars in uncompensated care. Denver Health is an integrated, efficient, high-quality health care system serving as a model for other safety net institutions across the nation.
The behavioral health services team consists of psychologists, psychiatrists, advanced practicing nurses, nursing staff, case managers and social workers. They work together to provide the best care to the individuals 14 in DSD custody. Services include medication management, individual therapy, group therapy, and case management. The men’s High Acuity Transition (HAT) unit is located at the Downtown Detention Center and the women’s HAT is located at the County Jail. The HAT program is a voluntary program designed for individuals with chronic and persistent mental illness.
The Male and Female Transition Units are located at the County Jail and provide clinical and transitional services to appropriate individuals in custody with mental illness as well. A 30-day prescription for psychiatric medications is provided to individuals released into the community to encourage a continuum of care.
Individuals incarcerated in DSD facilities who are struggling with substance misuses have access to medication- assisted therapies (MAT), including maintenance for individuals who were already taking MAT medications and induction for individuals who are interested in starting MAT medications during their period of incarceration. The DSD also has a MAT-specific housing unit for individuals taking MAT medications, which includes additional substance misuse programming and connections to community-based MAT treatment.
Denver Health Mission
- Provide access to the highest quality health care, whether for prevention, or acute and chronic diseases, regardless of ability to pay.
- Provide life-saving emergency medicine and trauma services to Denver and the Rocky Mountain region.
- Fulfill public health functions as dictated by the Denver Charter and the needs of the citizens of Denver.
- Provide health education for patients.
- Participate in the education of the next generation of health care professionals.
- Engage in research, which enhances our ability to meet the health care needs of Denver Health system patients.
Crisis Response Team
The Denver Sheriff Department Crisis Response Team (CRT) is a dedicated team of mental health professionals whose primary goal is to prevent and deescalate crises occurring within the Denver jail system on a 24-hour basis for individuals with serious mental illness.
CRT responds to the following mental health-related crises:
- Any behavioral health concerns or problems.
- Individuals with thoughts of hurting self or others.
- Self-harming behavior.
- Symptoms of serious mental illness when, if left alone, may be exacerbated:
- Hearing voices.
- Depressed mood.
- Significant changes in sleep, mood, or appetite.
- Delusional thoughts.
- Non-compliant individual(s) with suspected mental illness.
- Emergent medication issues.
- All officer assistance calls including:
- Use of force.
- Fights.
- Officer assaults.
The Denver Sheriff Department takes every report of sexual misconduct seriously and will thoroughly, promptly, and objectively investigate all allegations. We treat every investigation in a confidential and professional manner. All victims will be provided with medical and mental health care.
Visit the Denver Sheriff Department PREA page to answer the following questions:
- How would I know if my family member/friend is being threatened/victimized?
- What should I do if I suspect a sexual assault has occurred in a correctional facility?
- How does sexual abuse and/or sexual assault get reported?
Property belonging to a person in our care can be released to someone else if the individual in custody authorizes the release of said property. Property requests cannot be completed by mail and property will not be mailed to a requestor – it must be picked up in person.
Releasing & Retrieving Property
- Releasing property requires the authorization of the individual in custody.
- Retrieving property requires:
- Valid government photo ID (state or federal) – driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID.
- Fill out property release request at the Downtown Detention Center: 490 Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80204.
- You must be present when the officer presents the property.
If property is released to you, you will be responsible for taking all the individual’s property at that time. You will not be allowed to pick and choose which items will be released. Prior to your arrival, please make arrangements to take the entirety of the property home with you. The facility does not have bags for boxes for toting property.
You cannot drop property off to an individual in DSD custody. Individuals can purchase sundries, underwear, and t-shirts from the commissary. Individuals in custody are provided shoes and other clothing by the facility.
You cannot bring in stationery, religious items, or books to an individual in DSD custody. However, you can mail books to them directly from a store or publisher.
Individuals releasing from jail, with a history of substance misuse, are at a higher risk of overdose. To provide releasing individuals with harm reduction resources to stay safe, the DSD offers harm reduction release bags. Through this program, individuals releasing from DSD custody are offered a bag including two (2) administration of Narcan, five (5) Fentanyl test strips, inpatient/outpatient medical assisted treatment resources, and a phone number for Narcan replacement.