Alamosa County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Alamosa County bail and bond: the jail on 17th Street and the San Luis Valley court
People arrested in Alamosa County are held at the Alamosa County Jail, 1315 17th Street, Alamosa, run by the Sheriff's Department. The first step is Alamosa County Inmate Search, a quick way to confirm a booking and see any bail amount. For anything it leaves unclear, phone the jail desk at 719-589-6608. Alamosa County sits in the Twelfth Judicial District, and its court is the Alamosa Combined Court.
Is my relative locked up on 17th Street?
Search the name on Alamosa County Inmate Search. If nothing appears, the paperwork could still be underway, so check back in a few hours. The jail desk, 719-589-6608, can tell you more. A hold from some other agency would block release, so ask about one.
What number do I call at the jail about bail?
Use 719-589-6608. That is the line the county gives on its own bond-rights notice. Keep the legal name and date of birth handy, and jot down who you spoke with and when.
Does the jail have to release my family member quickly once I pay?
The county's notice says the sheriff must release a person within six hours after a personal recognizance bond is set, or after a cash bond is set and posted and the jail has been told. Only extraordinary circumstances may delay it. If the wait runs long, you have the right to ask what is causing it. Complaints can be made at 719-589-6608.
Will I be charged extra fees to get someone out?
You do not have to pay booking fees, bond fees, or other debts to get someone released. Only the bond amount is due. The county notice says a $10 bond fee and a card fee of up to 3.5 percent may be billed to the defendant as a debt later, if they were not paid at bonding. It also says there are no fees for cash, check, money order, or kiosk payments. Bond payments are made out to the county, never to the person in jail. Ask for a copy of the bond papers, which show the next court date.
What would bail be for a common charge here?
Officers and jail deputies use the Twelfth Judicial District's Uniform Bond Schedulewhen someone is arrested without a warrant. For each charge it prints two numbers, one for a surety or property bond and a smaller one for cash. Examples: a level 1 misdemeanor, $1,000 surety or $100 cash; a level 2 misdemeanor, $500 or $50; a first misdemeanor DUI, $750 or $75; a level 6 felony, $2,000 or $200; a level 4 felony against a person, $20,000 or $2,000.
Domestic violence arrests are different: the person cannot go free until a judge explains the protection order. A warrant sets its own amount. A judge can change any figure. The chart is on the court system's bond schedule.
How long does a scheduled bail last?
It holds until the person sees a judge, which state law requires within 48 hours of arrival at the jail. The judge may keep the amount, raise it, lower it, or order release without money. Colorado law favors the least restrictive release that still guards public safety and secures a return to court.
Can a bondsman help, and what does it cost?
Colorado allows a licensed bonding agent as one of four ways to post a money bond. The others are a cash deposit with the clerk, Colorado real estate, or sureties worth at least 1.5 times the bond. State law caps what an agent may charge at 15 percent of the bail, or $50 if that is more. Ask each agent for the exact total, what is kept, and what happens if court is missed. Get the answers in writing.
Will the court accept our Colorado property as security?
Only land or buildings in Colorado count. The unencumbered equity must be at least 1.5 times the bond. Vehicles and mobile homes do not qualify. All deed owners appear with photo ID, and a deed of trust is recorded with the court clerk as beneficiary. Title evidence goes in within 35 days. Ask the clerk at 719-589-4996 how the court handles it.
What are the courthouse address and hours?
The Alamosa Combined Court is at 8955 Independence Way, Alamosa, CO 81101. Hours are Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The clerk's line is 719-589-4996. Misdemeanors and first advisements go to county court; felony cases reach district court later.
What does a "no bond" entry mean in Alamosa?
That entry can mean no judge has set a number yet. The Sheriff's Office runs the jail. Under the district schedule, level 1 felonies need a specific court order, and parolees charged with certain new crimes get no bond. The Colorado Constitution, Article II, Section 19, as changed by Amendment I in 2024, also lets a court deny bail for first-degree murder when the proof is evident or the presumption great. Ask the jail what is behind the entry.
What about arrests by the Alamosa police?
The Alamosa Police Department makes city arrests. City ordinance cases are heard in municipal court, which is not the same as the combined court. Get the case or report number from the officer, then phone the jail at 719-589-6608 to learn whether the person has been brought there.
My son is 16 and was arrested. Where is he?
Young people are not placed in the adult jail. The state's Pueblo Youth Services Center, 1406 West 17th Street, Pueblo, serves the Twelfth Judicial District. Call it at 719-546-4915. His record stays confidential and will be missing from the adult search. The combined court clerk at 719-589-4996 can give the hearing time.
Who represents a valley defendant without money for counsel?
Appointed counsel can be requested at the opening hearing. The public defender's number for Alamosa criminal cases is 719-589-9615. The state's Alamosa office also covers Conejos, Costilla, Mineral, Rio Grande, and Saguache counties.
What if he or she never shows up for court?
Skipping a date leads to a warrant, and whatever backed the bond is at risk of forfeiture. Phone the clerk at 719-589-4996 right away and talk to your lawyer or bonding agent.
Which bail calls in the valley are fake?
Nobody at the jail or court will take gift cards or crypto, or want a wire sent to an individual. Hang up, then reach the jail on its listed line, 719-589-6608.
Which Alamosa offices take part in a San Luis Valley bond?
Bond questions in Alamosa County land at a short list of offices:
- Alamosa County Jail: 1315 17th Street, Alamosa, CO 81101, 719-589-6608; non-emergency dispatch 719-589-5807
- Alamosa Combined Court (district and county court, 12th Judicial District): 8955 Independence Way, Alamosa, CO 81101, 719-589-4996, alamosaclerk@judicial.state.co.us, weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- District Attorney, 12th Judicial District: 601 Main Street, Alamosa, 719-589-3691
- Public Defender, Alamosa office: 610 Main Street, Alamosa, 719-589-9615
- Alamosa Municipal Court: 300 Hunt Avenue, Alamosa, 719-589-2272, Monday through Thursday 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
A youth held for court goes to Pueblo Youth Services Center, 1406 West 17th Street, Pueblo, at 719-546-4915 or 719-546-4940; either line works.
Which state laws control an Alamosa County bond?
Every judge on Independence Way works inside these Colorado rules:
- First look by a judge: a jailed person gets a bond setting no later than 48 hours after reaching the jail.
- Personal recognizance: freedom on a written promise to return, with nothing paid.
- Unsecured bond: a dollar figure that comes due only after a missed date.
- Cash bond: the full sum, made out to the county; cash, money orders and cashier's checks work.
- Surety bond: a licensed agent fronts the bail, and the fee tops out at the greater of $50 or 15 percent.
- Real estate: Colorado land or buildings with free equity of 1.5 times the bond or more.
- Low-level charges: a traffic offense, a petty offense or a like city offense may not get a money condition.
- Bond fee: $10 is the ceiling, plus card processing up to 3.5 percent.
- Online bonds: House Bill 25-1015 makes jails offer online posting, credit card included, for bonds they take at the window.
- Denial of bail: Amendment I (2024) allows it for first-degree murder where proof is evident or the presumption great.
The statute itself is Colorado bail law, C.R.S. Title 16, Article 4 (https://content.leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/olls/crs2024-title-16.pdf). For plain-English bond types, open Colorado Judicial Branch guide to bond types (https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/self-help/types-bonds).
How does a federal arrest in the San Luis Valley play out?
A federal charge skips the Alamosa bond process entirely. The U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado hears it, and the nearest clerk is at the federal courthouse in Colorado Springs, 212 North Wahsatch Avenue, Suite 300, Colorado Springs, CO 80903, 719-471-3387. Expect these steps:
- A first appearance before a federal magistrate judge.
- An interview by federal Pretrial Services about family, job and history.
- A possible government motion to keep the person locked up until trial.
- Release terms set by a federal order instead of a jail cashier.
The U.S. Marshals decide where a federal detainee sits before sentencing: U.S. Marshals Service, Colorado Springs office, 719-633-2037 (district headquarters in Denver: 303-728-7800).
Where do I search once someone leaves the 17th Street jail?
Use the search that fits the stage of the case:
- Federal prison: Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator (https://www.bop.gov/inmateloc/) for sentenced federal inmates; pretrial federal holds go through the Marshals at 719-633-2037.
- Colorado prison: Colorado Department of Corrections inmate search (https://www.doc.state.co.us/oss/), by name or inmate number.
- Alamosa County Jail: Alamosa County Inmate Search.
More options sit on our Alamosa County inmate search page.
Does the Alamosa jail keep people for immigration agents?
State law, C.R.S. 24-76.6-102 (https://content.leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/olls/crs2024-title-24.pdf), forbids a Colorado sheriff from arresting or keeping someone only because of a civil immigration detainer. When the local case allows release, Alamosa deputies cannot extend the stay for ICE. Federal officers can still use their own warrant process.
Immigration cases from the valley run through the ICE Denver Field Office, 12445 East Caley Avenue, Centennial, CO 80111, 720-873-2899. The ICE Online Detainee Locator System (https://locator.ice.gov/odls/) finds people in ICE custody by A-number and country of birth.
Can VINE warn me when someone leaves Alamosa custody?
VINE costs nothing and doubles as a custody check:
- Go to VINELink (https://vinelink.vineapps.com/) and select Colorado.
- Enter the name or the jail booking number.
- Open the matching record to read the current custody status.
- Enter a phone number or email for notice of any release or transfer.
How do I check an Alamosa County case or warrant?
These free tools cover court records:
- Hearing dates: the Colorado Judicial Branch docket search (https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/dockets); choose Alamosa County.
- Case documents: the court record request form (https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/recorddocument-request-form), or the clerk at 719-589-4996.
- Warrants: call the Sheriff's Office at 719-589-6608; a city warrant goes to Alamosa Municipal Court at 719-589-2272.
Turning yourself in on a warrant happens at 1315 17th Street, and a lawyer can go along.
Which Alamosa numbers confirm a bond ahead of payment?
Two short calls settle most doubts:
- The jail, 719-589-6608, for the amount, any holds and release timing.
- The combined court clerk, 719-589-4996, for the court order and the next date.
- The municipal court, 719-589-2272, for a city charge.
Alamosa County bail contacts
- Jail: Alamosa County Jail, 1315 17th Street, Alamosa, CO 81101; 719-589-6608
- Bond guide: Alamosa jail bail and bond instructions
- Custody lookup: Alamosa County Inmate Search
- Courts: Alamosa Combined Court, 8955 Independence Way, Alamosa, CO 81101; 719-589-4996; Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Bond schedule: Twelfth Judicial District Uniform Bond Schedule
- Public defender: Colorado State Public Defender, Alamosa, 719-589-9615
- Youth detention: Pueblo Youth Services Center, 1406 West 17th Street, Pueblo, CO 81003; 719-546-4915
Figures, hours and numbers on this page can shift, and any judge may set a new amount. Check with the jail or clerk ahead of any payment. Treat it as a general guide rather than legal advice.
Depositing Money in an Inmate's Account so that they can Self Bail
Alamosa County Bail Bond Deposit
Alamosa County Jail uses a third-party, Inmate Canteen, to let you use a credit or debit card to deposit funds into an inmate's account so that they can pay their bail and get released after an arrest.
- To begin the process, first call the Alamosa County Jail at 719-589-6608 to get the exact amount needed to pay the bail.
- Next, go to Inmate Canteen, register and select this facility by first choosing Colorado. Then you will select the inmate you want to deposit money for, then the amount.
- Inmate Canteen Customer Service can be reached at 715-690-2965, or by email at support@inmatecanteen.com.
There will be a delay between the time you deposit the money and when Inmate Canteen forwards it to the inmate's account, but the sooner you notify the inmate and the Alamosa County Jail, the quicker they will be released.
Alamosa County Jail
Address:
1315 17th Street
Alamosa, CO 81101
Phone:
719-589-6608
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Alamosa County
Does Alamosa County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Alamosa County?
Who can set bail in Alamosa County?
When is bail set in Alamosa County Colorado?
Does Alamosa County have bail?
Yes, Colorado is a bail state and therefore Alamosa County has bail. Once bail is paid or the accused secures a bond accepted by the courts, the accused should be released within 6 hours of when the jail is notified, unless ankle bracelet monitoring or other conditions requiring more time have to be set up.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Alamosa County?
Alamosa County Colorado recognizes most types of bonds. The court will consider what type of bonds will be accepted depending on the circumstances of the arrest.
Who can set bail in Alamosa County?
A bond hearing officer sets bail in Colorado.This officer must be an attorney and can set bail for any court in the state and is available on weekends and holidays via audio-visual technology that allows the public to view the hearing.
When is bail set in Alamosa County Colorado?
Bail is set in Colorado the first time the accused is brought into court, usually directly from jail within 48 hours after the arrest. This first appearance to determine bail or bond is called initial appearance or 1st advisement. Bail can be determined before criminal charges are read. The judge will advise the arrested that they are being investigated and will set bail except for cases involving homicide.
Bail and Bond Frequently Asked Questions for Alamosa County Colorado
What is Bail?
Bail is what the arrested in Alamosa County must pay or do to stay out of jail until the first court appearance.
The agreement to bail acts as a promise that the arrested will return to court for court dates and trial. Bail usually refers to a dollar amount, but bail can also mean something that has to be done, or a condition such as reporting to an officer of the court, a curfew, restraining orders or attending a treatment program.
Bail is usually a significant enough amount of money and/or condition that the person will be negatively impacted and has incentive to return to court and not flee. A flight risk usually means that the person would flee the area, and not necessary that they are going to take an airplane.
If a judge in Alamosa County feels that the arrested will return to court for further proceedings, the arrested could be released under a conditional release without needing to pay bail money. This is called Released on Own Recognizance, or ROR.
Conditions for ROR might be to obey all court orders and laws, maintain contact with the lawyer, report changes in residence or have no contact with the victim. Family support will show the court that there are people who will make sure that the defendant makes it to court.
If the judge or bail schedule determines that the defendant would be a danger to the public if they were released, bail can be denied, and the person will remain detained in the Alamosa County Jail until the case is resolved or goes to trial.
Bail can be denied if the defendant did not comply with bail conditions from a previous arrest. Bail is usually denied in cases of violent offenses.
What is the difference between Bail and Bond?
Bail and bond are used interchangeably to mean the same thing but technically, they are different.
The bail is the amount to be paid and a bond is a signed document promising payment of the bail amount with certain conditions.
Think of a bond as a loan to pay for the bail.
The bond payment is always written to the court in your municipality, Alamosa County or district directly and does not go through the defendant. Chances of obtaining a bond from a bond company or clerk of court are better if family is involved.
The thought of being in jail can cause the arrested to panic and try to secure a bond immediately.
DO NOT panic and take the time to understand all the options.
More courts are now trying to work with defendants to make bail work and might provide non-monetary options or even reduce the bail.
Payments to a bond company are not refundable. It is a long process to get back property title or money that was given to the clerk of court or bondsperson to secure the bond. This could put your loved ones into a difficult financial situation.
Another reason not to unnecessarily rush into securing a bond is that if the court notes that you came up with the money to pay a bond company, they may assume you have resources to pay a defense attorney and decline public defense.
On the other hand, as anyone who has ever been involved in their criminal defense understands, fighting your case while ‘out on the streets’ gives you a much better chance of either winning, or getting a more favorable sentence.
What are the different types of bonds in Alamosa County?
Based on a review of information from the arrest, the judge or bail officer will determine and notify the accused of which types of bonds are available to them.
To describe the types of bonds, let’s use an example of buying your neighbor’s car. Your neighbor decides the price of the car and how they would be paid. Similarly, the court (meaning a police or bail officer, clerk of court, bail magistrate or judge) determines the bail amount and how it would be paid. Here are different options that the seller of the car or the court might consider:
You could pay full asking price for the car in cash. This is similar to paying cash bail. The full amount of bail would be paid to the town or county clerk or at the jail. Cash, cashier’s checks and credit cards are usually accepted.
You could sign an agreement on your own or with another person to pay for the car at a future date knowing that your neighbor would know where to find you if you stopped payment. This would be similar to a cash bond or a personal recognizance (PR) bond which are bonds to where someone representing the defendant signs paperwork promising to pay the bail amount if the defendant does not show up to court. There is no money due up front.
If the defendant does not show up, the full amount of the bail will be due to the court and the people who signed the paperwork will be responsible for paying the court and the court will send the sheriff’s department to arrest you.
Cash bonds and PR bonds are types of unsecured bonds because you are not securing it with any money down. In bond terms, a surety is a person who will be responsible for making sure that you will show to court and will be responsible to pay the bond if the arrested person does not show up.
Surety can be family, friend or a bondsperson. Your attorney cannot act as a surety.
You can put a deposit down for your neighbor’s car and sign an agreement that the car will be paid off at a later date. Cash percentage in lieu of bonds is when the defendant pays a percentage of the bail amount, usually 10%, to the court which then holds the money until the case is over.
The amount is returned to the person who paid the 10% after the case is over. In most cases, the full amount is not returned if there are court fees or fines due. This is a type of surety bond if another person signs the bond paperwork.
You could sign an agreement that if the car were not paid off, that your neighbor would get your house or something of value.
A property bond is a bond that the courts might consider in which the bond is pledged in land or home real estate (mobile homes are not accepted).
Usually, the property must be in the same state as the courts, and it must be worth at least 1 ½ - 2 times the amount of the bond.
There are multiple court fees involved to execute a property bond with the courts and a tedious process to get the property deed back. This is another type of surety bond if another person or a bond company is used to secure the bond.
You could also go to a local bank and take out a car loan offering property or anything of value for collateral. You may get someone to co-sign on the loan and offer their property. The bank charges fees, interest and could keep your property if you did not pay the loan back, or even on time.
A professional bondsperson makes money, at least 10% of the bond amount by providing you with a “loan” called a bond. The percent that they charge is fixed by the state and cannot be negotiated. The defendant or surety does not get that 10% or more back even if the terms of the bail are met.
With a property bond, the property deed would need to be signed over to the bondsperson and everyone on the deed would need to be involved.
Since the bondsperson signed off, to be responsible that you show to court as your surety, they can send a bounty hunter to bring you to court if you flee. A bondsperson does not have to give you a bond if the defendant seems to be too much of a risk.
Ask the bondsperson to explain all the costs: percentage, fees or court fees. There is never a reason to rush through signing the paperwork with a bond company. Make sure that everything told to you is in writing and that you understand what you are signing. Ask questions, and if you feel rushed or don’t understand the contract with the bond company, you might want to call another one.
(There have been phone scams where a bond company calls and informs a person that their family member has been arrested and they ask for financial information. A bondsperson will not call asking for money without involvement of the arrested.)
Does Alamosa County have bail?
Yes, Colorado is a bail state. Once bail is paid or the accused secures a bond accepted by the courts, the accused should be released within 6 hours of when the jail is notified, unless ankle bracelet monitoring or other conditions requiring more time have to be set up.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Alamosa County?
Alamosa County Colorado recognizes most types of bonds. The court will consider what type of bonds will be accepted depending on the circumstances of the arrest.
Who can set bail in Alamosa County?
A bond hearing officer sets bail in Colorado.This officer must be an attorney and can set bail for any court in the state and is available on weekends and holidays via audio-visual technology that allows the public to view the hearing.
When is bail set in Colorado?
Bail is set in Colorado the first time the accused is brought into court, usually directly from jail within 48 hours after the arrest. This first appearance to determine bail or bond is called initial appearance or 1st advisement. Bail can be determined before criminal charges are read. The judge will advise the arrested that they are being investigated and will set bail except for cases involving homicide.
Can I get the bail or bond reduced in Alamosa County Colorado?
Yes, the accused can ask for bail reduction at the second court appearance if it was set by a judge at the first appearance.
In Alamosa County Colorado, who can pay bail for me?
The person posting bail should be a relative or close friend, called a surety, because they are promising and taking responsibility that you will return to court to get their money back.
A surety is not responsible for court fees or paying off personal debts for the defendant. A professional bondsperson who is approved by the State of Colorado could be the surety and execute a bond to the court on your behalf.
Can bail be paid online in Alamosa County Colorado?
Yes, each jail has an online payment system. To contact the jail for online payment information, go to the Alamosa County Jail for more information about the jails in Alamosa County.
What options are there to pay bail in Alamosa County Colorado?
Cash is accepted. Personal checks are not accepted but a certified check, money order or cashier’s check are accepted. Payment of bail by credit cards is permitted.
Contact your Clerk of Court, sheriff’s office or police station clerk to ask how cash can be paid for bail. To contact the jail for information about cash payments, go to the Alamosa County Jail for more information about the jails in Alamosa County.
Will I get all my bond money back in Colorado?
Bail money is returned to the person who paid the bail; in whole or in part once the case is finished. There may be fees, restitution (money to pay for damage caused by the crime) or fines that come out of that amount.
If you used a bondsperson, you would not get your 10% back. Property is returned by the court or bondsperson after the appropriate requests and formal paperwork are completed with the court.
Can I get bail or a bond with no money down in Alamosa County?
The judge or officer who sets bail determines which kind of bail will be an option for you, but a cash bond and PR bonds usually do not require cash down, though you might have to pay court fees.
A cash bond or a personal recognizance (PR) bond are bonds where someone representing the defendant signs paperwork promising to pay the bail amount if the defendant does not show up to court. There is no money due up front.
If the defendant does not show up, the full amount of the bail will be due to the court and the people who signed the paperwork will be responsible for paying the court and the court will send the sheriff’s department to arrest you.
Cash bonds and PR bonds are types of unsecured bonds because you are not securing it with any money down. In bond terms, a surety is a person who will be responsible to make sure that you will show to court and will be responsible to pay the bond if the arrested person does not show up. A surety can be family, friend or a bondsperson. Your attorney cannot act as a surety.
What are the least expensive and affordable bail bonds in Colorado?
The jail or court can provide you with a list of approved and licensed bond companies in Alamosa County but they cannot recommend a specific company. You can read reviews about bond companies or get recommendations.
Find out exactly how much a bondsperson would charge, including extra costs. There is never a reason to rush through signing the paperwork with a bond company.
Make sure that everything told to you is in writing and that you understand what you are signing. Ask questions, and if you feel rushed or don’t understand the contract with the bond company, you might want to call another one.
Bail Bond Laws of Colorado
Effective January 1, 2022
1. Bond fees, booking fees, and other fees or debts never need to be paid to secure a person’s release on money bond. A payor need only pay the bond amount in order to secure release.
2. While never a basis to hold a defendant in jail, the following fees are chargeable as a debt to the defendant after release if the payor chooses not to pay the fees at the time of bonding: a $10 bond fee and a maximum 3.5% credit card payment fee. No other bond-related fees may be charged at any time, including any kiosk fees or fees for payment by cash, check, or money order.
3. Bond payments are to be made out to the holding county and are never to be made out in the name of the incarcerated person.
4. A sheriff must release a defendant within six hours after a personal recognizance bond is set and the defendant has returned to jail or within six hours after a cash bond has been set and the defendant has returned to jail and the defendant or surety notified the jail that bond is prepared to be posted, unless extraordinary circumstances exist. In the event of a delay of more than six hours, a surety and the defendant have a right to know what, if any, extraordinary circumstance is causing the delay. Supervisory conditions of release do not justify a delay in release; except that a sheriff may hold a defendant for up to 24 hours if necessary to ensure a defendant is fitted with required electronic monitoring.
5. Anyone who posts a money bond has the right to receive a copy of the bond paperwork, including documentation of the next upcoming court date.
6. A surety may never be asked to use posted bond money to pay a defendant’s debts. Only when defendants have posted their own money bond may they be asked if they would like to voluntarily relinquish bond money to pay their debts. Relinquishment of bond money by a defendant to pay a debt is never required and is entirely a voluntary choice by the defendant.