Arrest records are public in Colorado Springs, Colorado, pursuant to the Colorado Criminal Justice Records Act (CCJRA) C.R.S. § 24-72-301 et seq. This legislation establishes that criminal justice records, including those pertaining to arrests, shall be accessible to the public with certain exceptions. The CCJRA operates in conjunction with the Colorado Open Records Act (CORA) to ensure transparency in governmental operations while balancing privacy concerns and ongoing investigations.
Members of the public may access arrest records through designated channels established by the Colorado Springs Police Department and El Paso County law enforcement agencies. These records serve multiple public interests, including:
It should be noted that certain arrest records may be subject to redaction or withholding under specific provisions of the CCJRA, particularly those involving ongoing investigations, juvenile offenders, or cases where disclosure would be contrary to the public interest.
The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) maintains several methods through which members of the public may obtain arrest records. Individuals seeking such information may utilize the following official channels:
Citizens may submit requests in person at the CSPD Records Unit:
Colorado Springs Police Department Records Unit
705 S. Nevada Avenue
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
Phone: (719) 444-7000
Official Police Records Request Portal
Hours of operation: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, excluding holidays.
When submitting an in-person request, requestors must:
The CSPD offers a digital portal through which criminal justice records requests may be submitted. This system allows for:
For arrests processed by the El Paso County Sheriff's Office:
El Paso County Sheriff's Office Records Section
27 E. Vermijo Avenue
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
Phone: (719) 520-7100
Sheriff's Office Records
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
Standard arrest records maintained by the Colorado Springs Police Department contain comprehensive documentation of an individual's interaction with law enforcement during and following an arrest. Pursuant to departmental policy and state regulations, these records typically include:
All arrest records are maintained in accordance with the CSPD's records retention schedule and the Colorado Municipal Records Retention Schedule as approved by the State Archivist.
Under Colorado law, certain individuals may petition for the sealing or expungement of arrest records maintained by the Colorado Springs Police Department and other criminal justice agencies. The legal framework for this process is established under C.R.S. § 24-72-701 through § 24-72-709.
Eligibility for expungement or sealing of arrest records in Colorado Springs is determined by several factors:
The process for sealing or expunging arrest records requires:
El Paso County Combined Courts
270 S. Tejon Street
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
Phone: (719) 452-5000
Colorado Judicial Branch
Colorado Springs Municipal Court
224 E. Kiowa Street
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
Phone: (719) 385-5922
Municipal Court Information
When an arrest record is sealed pursuant to court order:
Individuals with questions regarding eligibility should consult with legal counsel, as the determination is highly fact-specific and subject to judicial discretion.
While arrest records are generally public in Colorado Springs, several statutory and regulatory restrictions limit access in specific circumstances. These limitations are designed to protect privacy interests, ongoing investigations, and vulnerable populations.
The Colorado Criminal Justice Records Act establishes that custodians of criminal justice records may restrict access when disclosure would be contrary to the public interest. Pursuant to C.R.S. § 24-72-305, the following categories of arrest records may be subject to restricted access:
The Colorado Springs Police Department evaluates each records request individually to determine whether any statutory exemptions apply. When records are withheld or redacted, the department provides written notification citing the specific legal authority for the denial.