What are Elbert County Public Records?
According to the Colorado Open Records Act, all government records are open to the public unless they are specifically exempted from disclosure. Elbert County public records include a wide range of documents, such as birth and death certificates, marriage licenses, property deeds, court records, and more.
It should be noted that there are some exceptions to what is considered a public record. For example, records that are considered confidential under state or federal law are not subject to disclosure. Other exempt records include those that are protected from disclosure due to privacy concerns, such as medical records or child abuse investigations. Additionally, some records may be exempt from disclosure if they are part of an ongoing criminal investigation.
To obtain Elbert county public records, interested members of the public may contact the appropriate government office or department. In most cases, there is no charge for copies of public records. Some offices may require that a Freedom of Information Request be submitted in order to obtain certain records.
In addition to government agencies, some public records may also be accessible from third-party websites. These non-government platforms come with intuitive tools that allow for expansive searches. Record seekers may either opt to use these tools to search for a specific record or multiple records. However, users will need to provide enough information to assist with the search such as:
- The name of the subject involved in the record (subject must be older than 18 or not juvenile)
- The address of the requestor
- A case number or file number (if known)
- The location of the document or person involved
- The last known or current address of the registrant
Third-party sites are not sponsored by government agencies. Because of this, record availability and results may vary.
Are Elbert County Criminal Records Public?
Yes, Elbert county criminal records are public record unless otherwise specified by state law or judicial order. These records are typically maintained by the Elbert County Sheriff's Office which serves as the county's primary law enforcement agency of the county. However, Elbert county criminal records are also collated by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation which is the state’s custodian of criminal history information in Colorado. The Bureau processes requests for criminal background checks and personal criminal history checks
To obtain Elbert county criminal records from the county Sheriff’s office, interested persons may submit a Criminal Justice Records Act Request. The completed form must be accompanied by a $10 research fee and submitted in person or via mail to:
P.O. Box 486
751 Ute Ave.
Kiowa, CO 80117
Phone: (303) 621-2027
Fax: (303) 621-2055
Email: sorecords@elbertcounty-co.gov
On the other hand, requestors may obtain two different kinds of criminal history checks from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation depending on the purpose of the check.
Employment criminal checks are processed by the Applicant Background Services Unit of the state Bureau.
To request a criminal record check for employment purposes, the requesting party may go to the Employment & Background Checks Page of the Bureau's website, select a fingerprinting service vendor from the list of approved vendors and schedule a fingerprinting appointment. Following the appointment, the requestor will receive the requested record in the mail
To obtain criminal history information using the Colorado Criminal History Record Check System, the requester must register for an account and obtain unique login information to access the system. Using the system, registered users can conduct name-based searches using their gender, birth date, and full name. This service typically costs $6.85 per search and will receive instant results for every query.
How to Obtain Elbert County Police Reports and Arrest Records?
Elbert county police reports and arrest records are generated, maintained and disseminated by the Elbert county sheriff's office. Police reports are official documents containing the details of an arrest or crime, while an arrest record contains information about the suspect, the victim, and witnesses to the crime.
To obtain a police report or arrest record in Elbert County, Colorado, interested members of the public may make an in-person or mail-in request to the county's sheriff's by downloading and submitting a Request For Criminal Records Justice Search. The completed application must be submitted along with the indicated fees and supporting documents to:
Elbert County Sheriff's Office
751 Ute Ave.
Kiowa, CO 80117
P.O. Box 486
Phone: (303) 621-2027
Fax: (303) 621-2055
Email: sorecords@elbertcounty-co.gov
How to Find Sex Offender Information in Elbert County
Elbert county sex offender information is maintained by the county Sheriff's office. The Elbert county sex offender registry contains basic information on each offender such as the names, photographs, physical descriptions, addresses, and nature of offenses. Similarly, interested persons can obtain sex offender information using the Colorado Convicted Sex Offender. The search feature on either registry allows interested persons to search by entering their full name and aliases, city, zip code, conviction level, and county. The "map search" provides tabs for users to find offenders by city, address, county, and zip code.
How to Find Elbert County Inmate Records
The Elbert County Sheriff's Office (ECSO) Detentions Division oversees the operations of the county jail and is tasked with the generation and maintenance of Elbert county inmate records. To obtain these records, interested members of the public may send a written request to the Division or contact the jail through the main information line at (303) 621-2027 to get information on the Elbert county inmate roster. For both written and verbal requests, the requesting party will be required to provide the inmate's full name and birth date.
How Do I Visit an Inmate in Elbert County Jail?
Interested members of the public may visit Elbert county inmates by scheduling their visit with the county sheriff's office. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 4:30 PM and closed on weekends and holidays.
Upon confirming a visitation date, the prospective visitor must present a valid, government-issued photo ID at the sheriff's office. The visitor will then be required to fill out a visitation form and submit it to the office staff. After the form has been processed, the visitor will be given an identification badge that must be worn during their visit.
Visits are typically held in the inmates' housing units and last for 30 minutes. In some cases, video visitation may be available.
Prospective visitors should note that they may be subject to a search before being granted entry to the facility. Weapons, drugs, and other contraband are not allowed on the premises. Visitors who are found to be in possession of any illegal items will be subject to arrest and prosecution.
Other visitation guidelines are as follows:
- Inmates are not allowed to receive more than two visitors at a time.
- Children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
- All visitors must dress appropriately; clothing that is revealing or suggestive is not allowed.
- Visitors who are disruptive or disorderly will be asked to leave and may be banned from future visits.
Elbert County Court Records
Elbert County, Colorado is served by a District Court and a County Court. The District Court has jurisdiction over all felony cases and most civil cases, while the County Court handles misdemeanors and small claims. Both courts are located in the Elbert County Courthouse in Kiowa, Colorado.
The District Court is staffed by one judge, who is elected to a four-year term and the County Court is composed of three judges each elected to four-year terms. Both courts are open to the public, and hearings are typically held in the morning or afternoon. Anyone wishing to file a case in either court must do so through the clerk's office.
Cases that are appealed from either the District Court or the County Court are heard by the Colorado Court of Appeals, which is located in Denver. The court of appeals is composed of eleven judges, who are appointed by the governor. These judges serve eight-year terms.
The highest court in Colorado is the Supreme Court, which is also located in Denver. The supreme court is composed of seven justices, who are appointed by the governor to eight-year terms.
The following are the addresses and contact information of courthouses in Elbert county, Colorado:
Elbert County District Court
Elbert County Courthouse
751 Ute Street,
P.O. Box 232,
Kiowa, CO 80117
Phone: (303) 621-2131
County Court of Elbert County
Elbert County Courthouse
751 Ute Street,
P.O. Box 232,
Kiowa, CO 80117
Phone: (303) 621-2131
Elizabeth Municipal Court
151 South Banner Street,
P.O. Box 159,
Elizabeth, CO 80107
Phone: (303) 646-4166
Kiowa Municipal Court
404 Comanche Street,
P.O. Box 237,
Kiowa, CO 80117
Phone: (303) 621-2366
Fax: (303) 621-2595
Simla Municipal Court
323 Pueblo Avenue,
Simla, CO 80835
Phone: (719) 541-2468
Are Elbert County Court Records Public?
Yes, pursuant to Colorado law, Elbert county court records are public. These records are available from a variety of sources including official state/county custodians and third-party providers. However, selected records are exempt from public disclosure; they include, but are not limited to, juvenile records, adoption records, and mental health commitment records.
How to Obtain Elbert County Court Case Records
Interested members of the public may access Elbert county court case records by querying the office of the County Court Clerk. To do so, requestors may send a written request to the office containing relevant information regarding the case of interest such as:
- The names of the parties involved
- The date of the hearing and judgment
- The court case number (if known)
Requests may be made in person or via mail to:
Elbert County Courthouse
751 Ute Ave.
P.O. Box 232
Kiowa, CO 80117
(303) 621-2131
Requestors may also access Elbert county court case records using the court docket search tool provided on Colorado Judicial Branch’s website. To use the tool, the requesting party must enter the district, county, and other relevant parameters, and select “search docket”. All relevant results will be generated and displayed.
What are Elbert County Vital Records?
Elbert county records are official documents that track important life events, such as births, deaths, marriages, and divorces. Colorado vital records are maintained by the state government, but the state also operates decentralized systems where each county or municipality maintains its own vital records.
According to Colorado state statutes, vital records are not public information and are only released to authorized individuals with a legitimate reason for requesting them. Authorized individuals include the person named on the record, their immediate family members, legal representatives, or others with a court order. In order to request a record, requestors must first ensure that they satisfy the state’s eligibility and identification criteria, depending on the vital records they seek.
Where and How to Obtain Elbert County Divorce Records and Marriage Records
Interested members of the public may obtain Elbert county marriage records or divorce records by requesting them from the office of the county court clerk. To request these records, the requester may prepare a written request addressed to the county court clerk. The request must contain the names of the individuals involved in the marriage or divorce, as well as the approximate date of the event. The requester may also be required to provide identification and a small processing fee.
These requests may be addressed to:
Elbert County Court Clerk
751 Ute Ave.
P.O. Box 232
Kiowa, CO 80117
(303) 621-2131
It should be noted that while these records are typically open to the public, some information may be restricted to protect the privacy of the individuals involved.
Where and How to Find Elbert County Birth Records and Death Records
Elbert county birth and death certificates are maintained and disseminated by the Elbert County Department of Public Health. To be eligible to access either of these records, the requesting party must be able to provide proof of their relationship with the subject of the record or demonstrate tangible interest in the record. These requirements are specified on the Vital Records Identification and Eligibility Documentation and Requirements page of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment website.
To obtain either of these records, download and complete the Colorado Birth Certificate Request Form or the Colorado Death Certificate Request Form. The completed form must be accompanied with the indicated fees and ID requirements and submitted in person, via mail or email to:
Elbert County Public Health
75 Ute Ave
P.O. Box 201
Kiowa, CO 80117
vitalrecords@elbertcounty-co.gov
