Colorado Criminal Records

Are Colorado Criminal Records Public?

Yes, Colorado criminal records are public as provided by the Colorado Open Records Act. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation serves as the state’s central repository for criminal records. Interested individuals can obtain criminal records in Colorado by calling the Bureau of Investigation on the phone or by querying the Internet Criminal History Check System.

Criminal records, considered public in the United States, are made available through some third-party aggregate sites. Searching with third-party websites is often easier as the information is not limited to geographic record availability. Information found on third-party websites can serve as a jumping off point for parties searching for a specific record or multiple records. Typically, requesters must provide the following information to gain access to these records:

• The record subject’s name, unless the subject is a juvenile.
• The record subjects’ last known location, including cities, counties, and states.

Third-party websites offer these search services, but they are not government sponsored. Availability of records may vary.

What is Considered a Criminal Record in Colorado?

Colorado criminal records are also known as rap sheets and contain official data about a person’s arrests, convictions, and criminal history in Colorado. The information is compiled from county and state jurisdictions as well as trial courts and correctional facilities across the state of Colorado. In compliance with state laws, including the Colorado Open Records Act (CORA), members of the public may inspect or obtain public criminal records by submitting a request to the government agency.

Colorado criminal records are one of the several police records compiled during criminal investigations. Other police records include arrest warrants, search warrants, arrest records, incident reports, and logs of police activities.

What Shows Up on a Criminal Record in Colorado

While the information in Colorado criminal records varies from person to person, you can expect to find the following details:

• Subject’s name and aliases
• Birthdate and other personal information
• Contact information (known address and phone number)
• Photograph
• Physical description (including weight, height, race, eye color, and hair color)
• Charges
• Court disposition
• Known associates

How to Obtain Criminal Records in Colorado?

While most counties have different standards for recollection, most criminal records are preserved in an online repository, where they can be accessed through different agencies, including police departments and courts. In the state of Colorado, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation allows the public to find criminal records on the Internet Criminal History Check System.

Researchers must create an account on the site to find an individual’s criminal record. When performing a criminal record search, researchers must provide the first and last name, date of birth, and give a reason for the search. A criminal record search costs $6.85.

Individuals that wish to perform a free public criminal record check may look through third-party websites. However, these sites may contain limited criminal information.

Are Colorado Arrest Records Public?

Yes, Colorado arrest records are available to the public according to the state’s Open Records Act. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation maintains public arrest records. Interested persons may call the Bureau on the phone or get arrest records through the Internet Criminal History Check System. The CBI charges $5 per search.

Interested persons may also contact their local police station or sheriff’s office to obtain name-based arrest records. Requesters may be able to search for free arrest records at the police station. However, they may have to pay copying fees.

What is Considered an Arrest Record in Colorado?

An arrest record is an official document providing information about a person who has been arrested. It may also contain data about the incident that led to the arrest as well as general information connected with the arrest. Most arrest records fall under the umbrella of public records, and therefore can be viewed or inspected by members of the public. However, some arrest records may be closed to the public, such as arrest records connected to an ongoing investigation, records sealed by law, or records closed for public safety.

Colorado Arrest Warrants

A Colorado arrest warrant is an official document that authorizes law enforcement officials to detain or arrest the person(s) named in the warrant. In the state of Colorado, arrest warrants are signed and issued by a judge or magistrate on behalf of the local and state jurisdictions. To obtain active warrants, law enforcement officers must provide evidence or show probable cause that a crime has been committed. In some cases, arrest warrants may originate from a grand jury.

How Do You Check for Warrants in Colorado

Colorado does not have a database for active warrants. However, anyone that wishes to perform a warrant search may query their local law enforcement office or the US Marshall’s Warrant Information System. The Colorado code of criminal procedure permits police officers to make an arrest without an active warrant if:

• The law enforcement officer has probable cause that an individual committed a felony
• The law enforcement officer directly witnesses an individual committing a crime

In many of the counties across Colorado, including Jefferson and Adams County, police officers and sheriff's deputies have a free pass to go and talk to the "duty judge" to ask for permission to go inside someone's private residence, car, or business to search for evidence. Or, they can ask for permission to take someone into custody by arrest. The process is entirely behind the scenes and private.

How to Lookup Colorado Inmate Records

Colorado inmate records provide official information about a person’s current and sometimes past inmate status. Jail records are compiled and managed by Colorado's Department of Corrections, which is headquartered at:

1250 Academy Park Loop
Colorado Springs, CO 80910
Phone: (719) 579-9580

The department maintains a public inmate database that the public can use to perform an inmate search. An inmate lookup will show an offender’s name, incarceration date, expected release date, and convicted offense. In addition to the housing facility where the offender is held, inmate records may also include photos.

How Do I Find Sex Offenders in Colorado?

The Colorado sex offender registry contains an official compilation of convicted sex offenders in the state. It provides public records on registered sex offenders in the state, including their names, address, and physical descriptors. In the state of Colorado, judges are given discretion as to whether they require registration for crimes besides the charges listed under the sex offender registration law, A judge may order an adult to register as a sex offender if the crime they were convicted of involves sexual motivation. In Colorado, the penalties that apply to a case of sex assault depend on the circumstances of the offense. Sexual assault is usually charged as a class 4 felony and penalties include a fine of at least $2,000 (and up to $5,000), at least one year (and up to 12 years) in prison, or both.

Understanding DUI Laws in Colorado

In Colorado, driving while under the influence is one of the most serious traffic violations a driver can commit. Generally, a person is said to be guilty of a DUI in Colorado if they have a measured blood alcohol content (BAC) of. 08% or more, or if their driving ability is impaired by alcohol. A person is said to be driving while ability impaired (DWAI) if they are only slightly alcohol-impaired or if a field sobriety test shows a BAC above. 0.5% but below. 08%.

Colorado police officers typically lookout for drivers who show signs of impairment and pull them over for a field sobriety test. The penalties for drunk driving in Colorado usually begin with a suspended license. The length of a suspension is dependent on the number of points a driver collects in a timeframe. For instance, a driver that collects 12 or more points within a year will lose their license for at least six months. However, depending on the severity of the situation and the number of repeat offenses, a person arrested for DUI may face up to a year in prison.

Colorado Misdemeanors Laws: Offenses and Penalties

Misdemeanors in Colorado are offenses that are considered to be “lesser” or minor crimes. They are punished less severely than felonies, with sentences ranging from 90 days to up to a year. There are three main types of misdemeanors in Colorado, regular misdemeanors, drug misdemeanors, and traffic misdemeanors. Examples of misdemeanors in Colorado include:

• Engaging in speed contests
• Careless driving
• Unlawful use or possession of a driver’s license
• Prostitution
• Fourth-degree arson
• Theft of property (less than $300)
• Fighting in public
• Second-degree forgery
• Assault in the third degree

Colorado law also divides misdemeanor offenses into multiple classes based on the severity of the crime: Class 1 through Class 3.

• Class 1 misdemeanors are the most serious type of misdemeanor. They’re punishable by up to 6 to 18 months in jail and/or a fine of $500 to $5,000.
• Class 2 misdemeanors are the second least serious type of misdemeanor with a minimum penalty of 3 months in jail and/or $250 to $1,000 in fines.
• Class 3 misdemeanors are the least serious type of misdemeanor with a punishment of up to 6 months in jail and/or a fine of $50 to $750.

Some crimes are unclassified and the sentences for these crimes are set forth in the statute that defines the crime.

Colorado Felony Laws: Offenses and Penalties

Felony crimes in Colorado refer to offenses that carry a minimum penalty of more than 1 year in prison. For some crimes, felony convictions may be punishable by death. Like most states, felonies in Colorado are divided into several basic classes that determine the sentencing range and fine: Class 1 to Class 6.

• Class 1 Felonies are the most severe punishable by life in prison or death.
• Class 2 Felonies are punishable by 8 to 24 years in prison and/or $5,000 to $1,000,000 in fines
• Class 3 Felonies carry a sentencing range of 4 to 12 years in prison and/or $3,000 to $750,000 in fines
• Class 4 Felonies are punishable by 2 to 6 years in prison and/or a fine of $2,000 to $500,000
• Class 5 Felonies carry penalties of up to 1 to 3 years in prison and/or a fine of $1,000 to $100,000.
• Class 6 felony crimes are the least serious with a sentence range of 1 to 3 years and a fine of $1,000 to $100,000.

Note: Some felonies in Colorado are unclassified. For unclassified felonies, the sentence is set out in the criminal statute. If no penalty is fixed, then a felony is punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000.

What Information is Provided in Colorado Parole Records?

Parole records provide information on inmates who are out on early release. It includes general public information, such as the name of the prisoner, any known aliases, physical descriptors, and conditions of release. Records of parolees may be obtained by contacting the parole board headquarters located at:

940 Broadway
Denver, CO 80203
Phone: (303) 763-2420

Colorado Probation Records

Probation records are official documents that show when a person receives probation as an alternative to prison. The state’s probation office allows people convicted of a crime in Colorado to serve their sentences out of custody, as long as they comply with probation conditions imposed by the judge and probation officer. Probation is issued in proportion to the crime, so the length and nature of probation differ (sometimes drastically) from case to case. Probation typically falls into three categories: minimally supervised, supervised, and intensive. Intensive probation is a form of very strict probation that has conditions that emphasize punishment and control of the offender within the community.

Are Juvenile Criminal Records Public in Colorado?

Juvenile court records in Colorado aren’t open to the public. They’re protected by law and may only be viewed by a limited group of people. Access to juvenile records may be granted to:

• Parents or guardians of the youth
• Youth on record
• Individuals intervening on behalf of the unit during a proceeding
• The DA’s office
• The Juvenile department

A juvenile criminal record is an official record of information regarding criminal activity committed by children or adolescents who are not yet of legal adult age. Juveniles are not considered to be convicted of a crime like an adult but instead are found to be “adjudicated delinquent”. Juveniles are not incarcerated in prisons but are remanded to a juvenile detention center.

Colorado Conviction Records

Conviction records provide information on the official status of a person’s conviction. They indicate if the subject pleaded guilty or was found guilty. Pleas of “Nolo contendere” also become part of the eventual criminal record, as do instances where an individual has been judged delinquent, has been less than honorably discharged or has been placed on probation, fined, imprisoned, or paroled. Conviction records do not include final judgments that have been reversed, deleted by a pardon, or set aside.

History and Accuracy of Colorado Criminal Records

The accuracy of the data of criminal records depends on the recordkeeping and technological capabilities of the jurisdiction where the record was assembled and later digitized. Colorado criminal records archives usually tend to go back as far as the 1970s when criminal and arrest data started to be centralized and compiled into an organized database much like we use today. Accuracy was more commonly affected by human error in the past, but in the 1990s the quality and accuracy of recordkeeping improved exponentially due to the advent of the computer.

Find Colorado Criminal History Record for Free

In Colorado, a criminal history record is an outline document that contains details of an individual’s affairs with law enforcement agencies. In Colorado, criminal records are a major demand during background checks. This is because they contain a record of the criminal crimes committed by an individual.

If a person goes to court, their record is officially sealed by the court. Likewise, the court system finds them guilty of accused crime and seals such a potent piece of their criminal history record.

In Colorado, individuals have the right to ask for the history of the criminal record of any resident. The Colorado Open Records Act makes allowance for such demands from the general public. Colorado law, section 24-72-302 (1), C.R.S covers public access to criminal history records.

Except, of course for records protected under Colorado state statute and bans. Despite the state’s ban box law, employers often use public records to search for information to learn more about applicants. While this is an illegal way of collecting information, one can apply the agencies under the freedom of information act for a legal search in Colorado.

The institution in charge of this criminal history record is the Colorado Bureau of Investigation Once can expect to find the following in Colorado Criminal record history:

• Full name and aliases
• A detailed description of individual
• Legal Charges against them
• Tattoos
• Mugshot
• Birth Date
• Warrant
• Offender status
• The county sheriff, police, or any enforcement agency that conducted the investigation and arrest

A trip to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation will grant access to any individual’s criminal history record. It comes at a charge of $5 to $6 per head. However, the only documented records are ones with fingerprint identification of the individual. Other petty crimes without a fingerprint are not duly recorded.

Since criminal history records are not considered due documents for public records. The requester will have to write to the law enforcement agency, Alternatively, the Colorado courts offer a free state search to individuals who are unable to afford the due payment.

Are Police Records Public in Colorado?

Yes, to some extent, police records are categorized as public records in Colorado. This is intentionally done to promote transparency in the government system.

In Colorado, a police record refers to any documented record received and maintained by law enforcement agencies to investigate and report crimes. Such committed crimes include traffic and collisions. Crime reports, officer-involved shooting reports, break-ins, auto reports, training records, crime statistics, other department releases, publications, etc.

Regardless of the liberality of the Colorado open records act, not all records can be inspected by the public. Except such requests are made by journalists, and non-profit and recognized public organizations. This exempted police may likely pose a threat to a person’s privacy, hence they’re subject to privacy laws.

The public only has access to records defined in section 24-72-302. Police records that may be restricted public access include:

• Implicating records containing confidential informants
• Juvenile police records,
• Identifying information (names, images, addresses) of crime victims
• Criminal offender record information
• Records that may endanger the safety of a witness or individual involved in an incident
• Records that may reveal investigative techniques
• Portions of investigative files that show the analysis or conclusions of an investigating officer
• Information that may deprive an individual of a fair trial

Otherwise, the Colorado Criminal Justice Records Act grants public access to some police records. Colorado police records contain details of a person’s arrest, victim details, address, and other means of identification. Most sensitive matters are taken off the public record.

How to Obtain Police Records in Colorado

All police records in Colorado are obtained under the Criminal Justice Records Act. All are covered under the (Colorado Public Records Law (24-72-201.). Recognized records include recordings, books, papers, maps, digital data, photographs, and other materials.

The custodian of police records in Colorado does not grant access to these exceptions:

Records that are closed on the order of state statutes

If the National law is against it

When the Supreme or state courts have closed the record.

Police records may be requested under the Colorado Criminal Justice Records Act. One may also submit a request for them, through Colorado’s law enforcement agency. There are no requirements for one to get their hands on Colorado police records.

To make copies for police records may attract a cost of $1.25 per page. However, additional fees may apply for special conditions:

• Manipulation of data in a form instead of the normal police record format.
• If records must be processed with a computer program

People who are entitled to a waiver fee include journalists, academic researchers, and nonprofits. One has to belong to any of these categories to be considered for a waiver fee. Police records are typically available within three days.

In event of special delays, the custodian must provide circumstances in writing, for example, if the number of required documents is much. This could extend the inquiry to seven days.

Are Colorado Police Reports Public?

Yes. A police report (also called an incident report) in Colorado is the official documentary record of an incident. The incident could be potentially legal or deemed legal by the court. Usually, the police report is written by an official police officer. Every police report is filed according to state department procedure.

In Colorado, police reports are often requested through the designated police agency that arrested a person of inquiry. Simply, find the police department in charge of the report to gain access.

Access to police reports in Colorado is given once you fill out the online form on the records and reports department website. The available working hours are Monday through Friday. Once you make payment through cash, credit card or checks-you’ll get access to the police reports. Processing of police reports takes an average of three to five working days.

How to File a Police Report with Colorado Law Enforcement

Filing a police report with the Colorado law enforcement department is easy and gives you lots of options. All emergency reports and in-progress incidents are made directly through 9-1-1. While some information is better reported directly through the online reporting alternative.

Here are a few things to take note of to file a police report in Colorado:

• Report only non-emergency crimes. Otherwise, call 9-1-1.
• Report crimes that happened within the area of police designation
• If there is no identified suspect yet

Where to Find Free Colorado Public Police Records

Since police records are public information in Colorado, there are no restrictions or fee for access. Most records are stored online or at the police agency in charge of the inquiry.

In Colorado, public police records are found through the Internet Criminal History Check System. Free research can also be done through third-party sites. Although these sites may pose threats to private information and often contain limited police record information.

How to Find Mugshots in Colorado

A "mugshot" is a close-up image taken by law enforcement to identify a person who was arrested or charged. This photograph may show the arrestee's front and profile view from the shoulders up.

In adherence to the Colorado Freedom of Information Act, mugshots are a matter of public record. Hence, interested members of the public can search online databases managed by certain criminal justice agencies to find mugshots. For example, a local police agency's daily arrests or most wanted fugitives site and the Colorado Department of Justice's sex offender registry.