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Pitkin County Jail Gymnasium
Pitkin County Jail Common Room
Pitkin County Jail Cell Interior
The Pitkin County Jail is a division of the Sheriff's Office. It is located in Aspen, immediately behind the Court House and adjacent to the parking garage. Jail staff is available by phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Pitkin County Jail Information Points
The mission of the Pitkin County Jail is to provide a safe, secure and humane environment for inmates and staff. All constitutional rights ruled appropriate for inmates by the U.S. Supreme Court are provided. The Pitkin County Jail makes available services and programs to enhance physical and mental wellness and encourage self rehabilitation and successful re-integration to society for all inmates. The Pitkin County Jail is a flexible and evolving institution which responds to legal, humanitarian and intelligent programs for change.
The Pitkin County Jail opened in January1984. At the time it was the first direct supervision jail of its size in the country. While the terms “jail” and “prison” are often used synonymously in the press, jails differ from prisons in that the length of stay in jails is measured in weeks rather than years and the majority of inmates in jails are presentence offenders as opposed to prison populations which are entirely convicted persons and whose length of stay is measured in years. The Pitkin County Jail recognizes that under the constitution of the United States, persons who are confined in a presentence status are considered innocent in the eyes of the law, until proven guilty. Fundamental to the treatment of sentenced inmates is the concept which recognizes that persons are sentenced to jail as punishment, not for punishment.
The Pitkin County Sheriff’s Director of Operations at that time was Bob Braudis and he was given the task of finding a design for a new jail that would replace the old cage that was located in the basement of the courthouse. He chose a design that incorporated a new concept called direct supervision.
The philosophy behind direct supervision provides for the creation of a more normalized jail environment as opposed to the socially abnormal environment found in traditional jails. Twenty five years of practicing direct supervision locally and in jails all over the nation has shown that 90% of inmates housed in the direct supervision environment will behave according to normal social and interpersonal expectations. Inmates who are unable to conform to these standards of behavior are separated from the general population in a more restrictive environment.
The direct supervision environment in the Pitkin County Jail includes windows that allow in outside light, carpeted floors to reduce the noise level, as well as cost effective non institutional furniture and porcelain toilet fixtures.
Inmates are allowed out of their cells from 8 AM until lockdown at 11:30 PM. Inmates are free to move about their dayroom or the multipurpose room, read or watch TV, play cards and otherwise interact. Detention Officers have regular direct contact with the inmate population inside the housing area. Inmates are housed in individual 65 sq. ft. cells. Each cell has a window to the outside. Inmates have direct access to collect phone calls, mail service, regular exercise periods and visits.
Balanced, hot, varied, dietitian approved inmate meals are provided daily, through an agreement with Aspen Valley Hospital Nutritional Services Department. Inmates can supplement their diet through the inmate commissary.
The Pitkin County Jail is accredited by the National Commission of Correctional Health. Nurse and physician services, psychiatric services, as well as other medical and professional care are provided through contract. Intake screening and further testing (TB and dental) is done on all new inmates. Medical care is provided on an emergency basis. Extreme health cases are treated at Aspen Valley Hospital. Suicide evaluation and counseling is available as needed. Drug and alcohol therapy groups meet regularly. The Pitkin County Jail has been tobacco free since 1992.
Inmates are provided with clothing, bedding, and hygiene supplies. Laundry services are provided under contract with Aspen Valley Hospital.
The Pitkin County Jail is a member of the American Jail Association and 75% of its staff are American Jail Association Certified Jail Officers. The staff is made up of seasoned professionals who understand that a respectful approach is the key to successful inmate behavior management.