Colorado Arrest Records

Is Colorado an Open Arrest Records State?

Colorado is an open arrest records state pursuant to the Colorado Open Records Act (CORA), C.R.S. § 24-72-201 et seq. The state maintains a commitment to governmental transparency and public accountability by making arrest records accessible to the general public. This legislative framework establishes that records created, maintained, or kept by state agencies, including law enforcement entities, shall be available for public inspection unless specifically exempted by statute.

The Colorado Criminal Justice Records Act (CCJRA), C.R.S. § 24-72-301 et seq., further governs the release of criminal justice records, including arrest information. Under this statute, official actions such as arrests are considered public records. Law enforcement agencies maintain discretion regarding the release of certain investigative records, but arrest records themselves are presumptively open to public inspection.

Public access to arrest records serves multiple governmental and societal interests, including:

Promoting transparency in law enforcement operations
Enabling citizens to monitor the activities of government agencies
Supporting journalistic investigation and reporting
Facilitating background checks for employment and housing purposes
Enhancing public safety through informed community awareness

How to Look Up Colorado Arrest Records in 2025

Members of the public seeking Colorado arrest records in 2025 may utilize several official channels to obtain this information. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) serves as the central repository for criminal history information in the state and provides multiple methods for accessing arrest records.

Individuals may request arrest records through the following methods:

In-person requests at the CBI headquarters:

Colorado Bureau of Investigation
690 Kipling Street, Suite 3000
Denver, CO 80215
(303) 239-4208
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Online searches through the CBI's Internet Criminal History Check (ICHC) system, which provides immediate access to public criminal history information for a fee of $5.00 per search
County sheriff's offices maintain local arrest records and booking information:

Denver Sheriff Department
490 W. Colfax Avenue
Denver, CO 80204
(720) 913-2000
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Municipal police departments typically provide access to recent arrest logs:

Colorado Springs Police Department
705 S. Nevada Avenue
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
(719) 444-7000
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Judicial records related to arrests may be accessed through the Colorado Judicial Branch website or at county courthouses

Pursuant to C.R.S. § 24-72-305.5, requestors must provide proper identification when seeking criminal justice records. Agencies may charge reasonable fees for search, retrieval, and copying services as authorized by C.R.S. § 24-72-306.

Contents of a Colorado Arrest Record

Colorado arrest records contain standardized information as required by state statute and law enforcement protocols. These records typically include the following elements:

Biographical Information:
- Full legal name of the arrested individual
- Date of birth
- Gender
- Race/ethnicity
- Physical descriptors (height, weight, identifying marks)
- Address at time of arrest
- State identification number (SID)
Arrest Details:
- Date and time of arrest
- Location of arrest
- Arresting agency and officer identification
- Booking number
- Fingerprint classification
- Photograph (mugshot)
Criminal Charges:
- Statute citations for alleged violations
- Charge classification (felony, misdemeanor, petty offense)
- Charge descriptions
- Case numbers
Disposition Information:
- Court of jurisdiction
- Bond/bail amount and status
- Plea entered
- Sentence imposed (if convicted)
- Probation or parole status

The Colorado Department of Corrections maintains additional records for individuals who have been sentenced to state custody following conviction.

Understanding the Colorado Open Records Act

The Colorado Open Records Act (CORA), codified at C.R.S. § 24-72-201 through § 24-72-309, establishes the framework for public access to government records, including arrest information. CORA operates under the fundamental principle that all public records shall be open for inspection except as specifically provided by law.

Key provisions of CORA relating to arrest records include:

Definition of Public Records: C.R.S. § 24-72-202(6) defines public records as "all writings made, maintained, or kept by the state, any agency, institution, a nonprofit corporation... or political subdivision of the state" for use in the exercise of functions required or authorized by law.
Custodian Responsibilities: C.R.S. § 24-72-203 requires records custodians to make records available for public inspection during regular business hours.
Response Timeframes: Pursuant to C.R.S. § 24-72-203(3)(b), custodians must respond to record requests within three working days, though this period may be extended by an additional seven working days under extenuating circumstances.
Fee Structure: C.R.S. § 24-72-205 authorizes custodians to charge reasonable fees for document retrieval and duplication, not to exceed $0.25 per standard page.

The Colorado Criminal Justice Records Act (CCJRA), a subset of CORA, specifically addresses criminal justice records. Under C.R.S. § 24-72-303, records of official actions, including arrests, must be available for inspection by any person at reasonable times.

Expungement of Arrest Records in Colorado

Colorado law provides mechanisms for the sealing or expungement of certain arrest records under specific circumstances. The Colorado Judicial Branch administers these processes according to statutory guidelines.

Eligibility criteria for record sealing include:

Arrests Without Charges: Pursuant to C.R.S. § 24-72-704, individuals may petition to seal records when no charges were filed within one year of the arrest date.
Dismissed Cases: C.R.S. § 24-72-705 permits sealing when charges were filed but later dismissed or the defendant was acquitted.
Completed Deferred Judgments: Under C.R.S. § 24-72-705, records may be sealed after successful completion of a deferred judgment and dismissal of charges.
Conviction Records: C.R.S. § 24-72-706 allows for sealing of certain conviction records after specified waiting periods, typically 3-5 years for misdemeanors and 5-10 years for felonies, depending on offense classification.

Certain offenses are statutorily ineligible for sealing, including:

Class 1 and 2 felonies
Class 3 felony sexual assault offenses
Crimes involving child victims
Traffic offenses and DUIs
Domestic violence convictions

The petition process requires filing with the district court in the jurisdiction where the arrest occurred. Filing fees range from $65 to $224 depending on case type. Petitioners must provide fingerprints for a criminal history verification conducted by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.

How to Find Local Arrests in Colorado?

Local arrest information in Colorado is maintained by county sheriff's offices and municipal police departments throughout the state. Members of the public may access this information through several authorized channels:

Daily Booking Reports: Many sheriff's offices publish daily booking logs showing recent arrests, such as the Weld County Sheriff's Office Arrested Report.
Jail Inmate Rosters: County detention facilities maintain searchable databases of current inmates, including arrest information:

Adams County Detention Facility
4430 S. Adams County Parkway
Brighton, CO 80601
(303) 655-3494
Hours: 24 hours daily
Court Dockets: The Colorado Judicial Branch maintains public access terminals at courthouses where arrest-related case information may be viewed:

Denver District Court
1437 Bannock Street
Denver, CO 80202
(720) 865-8301
Hours: Monday-Friday, 7:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Law Enforcement Agency Websites: Many agencies provide online search tools for recent arrests and incident reports.
Public Records Requests: Formal requests may be submitted to law enforcement agencies under CORA provisions.

Pursuant to C.R.S. § 24-72-305, agencies may withhold certain information if disclosure would be contrary to the public interest or would interfere with ongoing investigations.