Denver Sheriff Department Launches In-person Visitations at the Denver County Jail; Unveils New Denver Public Art

The Denver Sheriff Department (DSD) reintroduces in-person visitations at the Denver County Jail (COJL). The program will roll out slowly offering in-person visits to people in custody with low-level charges on Fridays and Saturdays.

Family and friends can request an in-person visit with an individual housed at the COJL on the DSD’s website. The first step is to fill out the eligibility form. The requestor will receive a response on whether the person in custody can or cannot have an in-person visit. If the person can have an in-person visit, the requestor will fill out a form with information about the individuals visiting the person in custody.

“In-person visits are another way for individuals in custody to stay connected with their loved ones,” said Sheriff Elias Diggins. “We know that seeing family and friends face-to-face is a privilege. We hope as people leave our custody, they become productive members of society and this connection continues when they go home.”

In December 2017, a workgroup of internal and external stakeholders explored the feasibility of reinstating in-person visits. The overall project included the COJL lobby, in-person visitation waiting room, and the visitation area which began construction in July 2022. The lobby was completed in October 2023 and the in-person waiting and meeting rooms in May 2024.

“Incarceration is a traumatic experience not only for the person who has lost their freedom but also for the family who has been separated from their loved one. A growing body of research has shown that whenever possible restoring in-person contact is an essential investment in maintaining healthy familial relationships, especially where young ones are involved,” said Councilman Kashmann. “I know it adds an element of attention required to maintain security within the facility. I very much appreciate the Sheriff and his staff for their willingness to take on this added responsibility.”

The overall design of the visitation room has a welcoming environment, with soothing colors and beautiful murals. It is a large open area with round tables, chairs, and separate rooms for families with children to meet. As part of the city’s public art program, local artists painted the murals on the 20-foot-high walls.

As directed by Denver’s 1% for Public Art ordinance, part of the construction budget used for the visitation room was dedicated to the creation of new public art.

“It was important for the Denver Public Art selection panel, that the artists chosen for this project had a connection with the incarcerated community,” said Tariana Navas-Nieves, Denver Arts & Venues Deputy Director. “We were deliberate in inviting artists with relationships with incarcerated individuals or who were formerly incarcerated themselves. Artists were encouraged to consider biophilic design strategies to support mental health through color, pattern and subject matter.”

Three murals were created by artists Marissa Napoletano and Sean J. Marshall. Intended to support the much-needed connection between people serving their short sentences and their loved ones, these murals symbolize interconnection and unity, hope for the future, and growth. The artists selected symbols such as the ginkgo plant, which embodies growth and healing, face silhouettes representing the past, present and future in harmony as well as interconnectivity, and hands surrounded by doves which signify hope and peace.