Meet the Facility
Facility Name: Weld County Jail
Website: www.weldsheriff.com Location: Greeley, Colorado Year Built/Opened: Built in 1997; additions made in 2003, 2008, 2021 Average Daily Population: 564 Males; 118 Females; 0 Juveniles Sheriff: Sheriff Steve Reams Number of Staff: 219 Uniformed; 76 Civilian
Number of Volunteers: 56 Operating Budget: $44,348,000 Method of Inmate Supervision: Direct Supervision Point of Contact: Captain Matt Turner, mturner@weld.gov
Photo: Jeff Roberts, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office
The Weld County Jail, built in 1997, is in Greeley, Colorado. Weld County is the third largest county in Colorado, which results in the sheriff’s office jurisdiction covering approximately 4,000 square miles. The jail currently employees 219 sworn staff and 76 civilian staff, which includes booking, inmate services, and courts. The jail is capable of housing 1197 inmates.
Our jail is one of the few direct supervision facilities in the state. This means our detentions deputies work to provide a safer living space in the housing units 24 hours a day. Our jail staff sees the benefits of direct supervision because they interact with inmates throughout the day and can monitor changes in their behavior. If a concern arises about a specific inmate, our inmate services staff can initiate a welfare check. On several occasions, the positive relationship between our inmates and deputies caused an inmate to step in to assist a deputy in need.
Being able to act swiftly in critical situations is another benefit of our direct supervision approach. While performing a routine walk in her unit, Deputy Hawes was notified of an inmate in need of medical attention. Hawes, along with medical staff, performed life-saving measures which revived the inmate. This year, Hawes was presented with a lifesaving award for her efforts. The Weld County Jail works daily to provide a safe environment for the individuals in our custody.
One crucial tool in preventing drugs from entering the jail is our body scanner. Detentions staff use it on everyone that is booked into the jail, and in the event the body scanner detects any potential contraband, immediate steps are taken to thwart it from entering the facility. Also, during this time if the person with the suspected contraband needs medical assistance, detentions medical staff can respond and provide that care if it is necessary. The sheriff’s office also provides several programs to prepare our inmates for a productive reentry into the community. Programs such as jail-based behavioral health services (JBBS) are available to inmates who have been identified as having a substance abuse disorder with assistance being provided both in and out of jail. Our mental health staff also provides inmates with psychotherapy while they are incarcerated and will monitor individuals that are a concern out in the community for up to a year after they have been released from custody. In addition to this assistance, Weld County staff also utilize recovery support funds which assist individuals who have been recently released from jail in taking vital and productive steps back into society by helping them obtain their identification card as well as providing them first month’s rent and helping them obtain affordable housing.
From our commitment to inmate safety, to the helpful programs we provide inmates in and out of custody, our facility is a place where the staff take pride in every realm, and we are honored to serve the citizens of Weld County no matter where they are in their lives.