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Denver Sheriff Department

 

Message from Director of Corrections Gary Wilson

It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to the Denver Sheriff Department website. It has been designed to provide you with information about our agency and operations. 

 

The Denver Sheriff Department is the largest Sheriff Department agency in the state of Colorado and is comprised of many divisions and diverse operations with over 890 uniformed and non-uniformed staff members.  These operations include two separate jails, security for the District and County court systems, state inmate transportation, extradition duties, fugitive and K-9 units, a Community Corrections and Work Release facility, and security at Denver Health Medical Center.  

 
All offenders who are in the custody of the Denver Sheriff Department are given the opportunity to participate in programs that are designed for successful re-entry back into the community.  These programs include, life skills, mental health and substance abuse treatment, GED, faith based initiatives and productive day education.  Through collaboration with the community and the Crime Prevention and Control Commission, the Denver Sheriff Department continues to seek ways to reduce recidivism.
 
Our agency is currently accredited by the American Correctional Association (ACA) and the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC).  We are a proud agency that is committed to employing the best practices for the community that we serve while being fiscally responsible.
 

I am extremely proud of the opportunity to serve you as the Director of Corrections and Undersheriff.  I look forward to working towards further defining our rightful place as the best criminal justice agency in the Country. 

About the Denver Sheriff Department

 
 

DEDICATION
SERVICE
DUTY

 
The Denver Sheriff Department is the third largest criminal justice agency in the State of Colorado, following the Denver Police Department and the Colorado Department of Corrections.
 
Thirty percent (30%) of all inmates sentenced to the Colorado Department of Corrections are from the City and County of Denver.  
 
Staffing within the Department includes 726 uniformed personnel and 161 civilian personnel.
  
The Denver jails hold the distinction for being the first local detention facilities in the United States to be accredited by the American Correctional Association (ACA). This distinction was once again realized in August 2012 when the Denver Sheriff Department was awarded American Correctional Association Accreditation for both detention facilities. 
 
Both facilities also hold National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC) accreditation.

DSD Annual Reports

Our Vision and Mission

VISION

We are committed to being a model law enforcement agency by demonstrating best practices, incorporating emerging technologies and the highest standards in accreditation by achieving and maintaining the Triple Crown Award. 

MISSION

To provide safety and security for the community by ensuring care, custody, transportation and reentry services for detainees by operating safe, secure, efficient and humane facilities that adhere to federal, state and local  laws.

Denver Sheriff Department History

The Denver Sheriff Department was created on December 2, 1902 with the creation of the City and County of Denver.  In 110 years the Denver Sheriff Department has seen changes in facilities, locations, inmate populations, personnel, etc.  However, the one thing that has remained constant in 110 years is the commitment and dedication of Denver Sheriff Department personnel.
 
Since 1902, the Denver Sheriff Department has moved from facilities made up of a few hundred square feet to the hundreds of thousands of square feet that make up both the Van Cise-Simonet Detention Center and the Denver County Jail.  We have gone from handwritten forms and typing on typewriters to a virtually paperless state-of-the-art Jail Management System.  In 1902 the Department began with a handful of employees and has grown to over 890 dedicated men and women, both uniformed and civilian. 
 

Manager of Safety, Alex Martinez

The City and County of Denver is unique in that it does not have an elected sheriff, the Manager of Safety is the de-facto sheriff and the Department is directly supervised by the Director of Corrections, who is also the Undersheriff.  Our "Sheriff", Alex Martinez was appointed as Manager of Public Safety by Mayor Hancock on November 1, 2011.
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