Arrest records are public documents in Douglas County, Colorado, pursuant to the Colorado Open Records Act (CORA), C.R.S. § 24-72-201 et seq. This legislation establishes the public's right to access government-held records, including arrest records, to ensure transparency in governmental operations. The statute specifically designates criminal justice records as public documents, with certain exceptions for ongoing investigations, juvenile records, and cases where privacy interests outweigh public disclosure benefits.
Members of the public may access these records through designated custodians at various county agencies. The Douglas County Sheriff's Office maintains the primary repository of arrest records for unincorporated areas of the county, while municipal police departments maintain records for arrests within their jurisdictions. Requestors should note that while the records are public, agencies may charge reasonable fees for search, retrieval, and duplication services as permitted under C.R.S. § 24-72-306.
The Douglas County open records portal provides comprehensive information regarding the process for submitting CORA requests for various county departments.
Douglas County arrest records are accessible through several online platforms maintained by county and state agencies. The Douglas County Sheriff's Office provides a public-facing inmate search function that displays current detention status and basic arrest information. This digital access system was implemented as part of the county's commitment to governmental transparency and efficient public service delivery.
Online access to arrest records is governed by the same statutory provisions that regulate physical access, including privacy protections established under C.R.S. § 24-72-305. Digital platforms typically display only basic information about arrests, while more detailed records may require formal requests through the appropriate records custodian.
The Colorado Judicial Branch maintains an online case lookup system where members of the public may search for court cases associated with arrests in Douglas County. This system provides docket information, hearing schedules, and case status updates, though certain documents may be available only through in-person requests at the courthouse.
Douglas County provides multiple channels through which members of the public may access arrest records in 2025. Each method has specific procedures and requirements established pursuant to Colorado law:
Douglas County Sheriff's Office
4000 Justice Way
Castle Rock, CO 80109
(303) 660-7505
Douglas County Sheriff's Office Records
Castle Rock Police Department
100 Perry Street
Castle Rock, CO 80104
(303) 663-6100
Castle Rock Police Records
Parker Police Department
18600 Lincoln Meadows Parkway
Parker, CO 80134
(303) 841-9800
Parker Police Records
CBI Identification Unit
690 Kipling Street, Suite 3000
Denver, CO 80215
(303) 239-4208
Douglas County Justice Center
4000 Justice Way
Castle Rock, CO 80109
(720) 437-6200
Douglas County arrest records contain standardized information as prescribed by Colorado law and criminal justice information system requirements. These records typically include the following elements:
Pursuant to C.R.S. § 24-72-305.5, certain information may be redacted from publicly available arrest records, including Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, and information that would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy. Additionally, records pertaining to sexual assault victims contain heightened privacy protections under Colorado law.
The Douglas County Sheriff's Office maintains these records in accordance with state-mandated retention schedules established by the Colorado State Archives.
Under Colorado law, certain individuals may petition for the sealing or expungement of arrest records maintained in Douglas County. The legal framework for record sealing is established in C.R.S. § 24-72-701 through 709, which provides specific eligibility criteria and procedures.
Eligibility for expungement or sealing generally includes:
The expungement process requires filing a petition with the Douglas County District Court, where a judge will determine if the statutory requirements have been met. If granted, the order directs all custodians of records to seal the specified records from public view, though they remain accessible to law enforcement agencies for official purposes.
Petitioners should be aware that expungement in Colorado is technically a sealing process rather than complete destruction of records. Sealed records are removed from public access but maintained in restricted government databases pursuant to C.R.S. § 24-72-703.
The Douglas County District Attorney's Office may object to petitions for sealing in cases where public safety concerns outweigh the petitioner's privacy interests, as permitted under state statute.