Colorado Arrest Records Search | Criminal Records

Rocky Mountain record route

Colorado Criminal History, County Jail Bookings and Court Record Lookup

Find the right Colorado record without searching the wrong system. This guide routes recent county-jail bookings, state-prison inmates, criminal court cases, CBI background checks, bond information, visitation, legal help and record-sealing requests.

Find a recent booking in the correct county jail Check a court date, charge or disposition Request an official Colorado criminal-history check
An arrest is not a conviction. A jail listing shows custody or booking information. Use the court record to learn whether charges were filed, changed, dismissed or resolved.
Quick answer

Colorado Arrest Records Are Split Between Different Agencies

Colorado has no single statewide portal containing every county-jail inmate, court case and criminal-history record. Start with the system that matches the question you need answered.

Recently arrested

Search the sheriff or detention-center portal for the county where the arrest occurred.

State-prison inmate

Use the Colorado Department of Corrections inmate locator.

Court date or outcome

Use Colorado Judicial Branch docket and records access.

Official criminal history

Use the Colorado Bureau of Investigation ICHC system.

This browser tool does not request or transmit names, dates of birth, case numbers or other personal information.

Jump Directly to Your Task

Each section explains which official page to open, what information to prepare and what to do when the expected record does not appear.

Urgent route

Someone Was Arrested in Colorado Today: What to Check First

A new arrest may not appear online immediately. Booking staff must confirm identity, process fingerprints, enter charges, complete screening and assign a housing location before a searchable record is available.

Confirm the arresting agency

Ask whether the arrest was made by a city police department, county sheriff, Colorado State Patrol or another agency.

Identify the booking county

The arresting city is not always the jail location. Write down the county, agency and approximate arrest time.

Open the county’s official inmate search

Use the county finder below. Start with the last name or booking number and avoid filling every optional field.

Call the booking desk when the record is missing

Ask whether the person has arrived, whether intake is complete and which name spelling or booking number should be used.

Ask which court will handle the first appearance

Record the county court, case number if available and the date or time of the next appearance.

Save the identifying details

Write down the booking number, facility, arrest date, charge wording and bond status. These details help avoid matching another person with a similar name.

Release-payment scam warning: A caller may spoof a real sheriff or jail number. Do not pay by gift card, cryptocurrency, money-transfer kiosk or an unsolicited payment link. End the call and independently contact the jail or court.

County custody

How to Search Colorado County Jail Bookings

Most recent Colorado arrests are first recorded by a county sheriff or local detention facility. CDOC normally will not show a person who is only awaiting court in a county jail.

Choose the county where the person was booked

Use the arresting agency, city and court location to identify the most likely county detention facility.

Open the official sheriff or county portal

Use a government or sheriff-operated search. Avoid sites that require payment merely to reveal current jail custody.

Search with fewer fields

Start with two or more letters of the last name where permitted. Add the first name or booking number only when necessary.

Compare the complete result

Check the booking number, age, admission date, facility, arresting agency, charge and bond status.

Confirm time-sensitive information by phone

Online custody, release and bond fields can change. Call the facility before travelling or paying money.

Verified Colorado county inmate-search examples
County
How the search works
Helpful contact or feature
Official source
Denver
Search by full or partial name, booking number, facility or status.
Call 720-913-3600 when you believe the person is held in a Denver facility but no result appears.
El Paso
Enter the last name or booking number.
Booking desk: 719-390-2151. Jail: 2739 East Las Vegas Street, Colorado Springs.
Arapahoe
Use full or partial inmate-name fields.
The inmate information section also routes charges, bonds, visits, mail, phones and accounts.
Jefferson
Results begin displaying as the name is typed.
Inmate and bond information: 303-271-5444. Jail lobby is generally open daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Larimer
Enter at least two letters of the surname and select the matching name.
The portal also provides booking reports, releases and current population information.
Weld
Use current inmate, arrest and release reports.
The reports may show booking, bond, charge, arresting agency and custody information.
Boulder
Use current jail listings and daily booking reports.
Older bookings and mugshots may require a sheriff’s records request. Jail information: 303-441-4600.

Other counties: Use the County Sheriffs of Colorado directory to locate the correct sheriff. Then look for “Inmate Search,” “Detention,” “Jail,” “Booking Report” or “Custody Information” on the official county site.

State custody

Search Colorado Department of Corrections Inmates

Use the CDOC locator when the person may be serving a state-prison sentence. A newly arrested county detainee, municipal prisoner or federal inmate may not appear.

How to use the state inmate locator
  1. Open the official Colorado inmate locator.
  2. Follow the link to the CDOC database.
  3. Search by DOC number when available.
  4. Otherwise enter the legal name and review spelling variations.
  5. Compare the DOC number, age, facility and status.
  6. Open the facility page before planning a visit or mailing anything.
Who may not appear
  • A person still held only in a county jail.
  • A person detained by a municipal agency.
  • A juvenile held through youth services.
  • A federal detainee or federal prisoner.
  • A person released before the database update.
  • A person whose public information is legally restricted.

CDOC Constituent Services: When you do not know which department can answer a prison-related question, contact Constituent Services at 719-226-4569. Prepare the inmate’s name, DOC number or date of birth, facility and a clear description of the issue.

Court verification

Check Colorado Criminal Court Records, Dockets and Documents

A county-jail result can show a booking charge, but the Colorado court record is the better source for the filed case, hearing dates, case status and disposition.

Open Colorado Courts Records Search

Start at the Colorado Judicial Branch records-search page.

Identify the correct county and court

Use the county where the criminal case was filed. Denver County Court and municipal courts may use different record routes from state county and district courts.

Search the public docket

Use the official docket search. At least one filter in addition to the date is required.

Compare the case details

Match the name, county, case number, filing date, division and event type. A common name may return unrelated cases.

Request the actual document when needed

Use the Judicial Branch record/document request form or contact the clerk in the handling county.

Read beyond the original charge

Check later filings, amended charges, dismissals, plea entries, sentence information and final disposition.

Typical Colorado criminal-case route

Arrest Law-enforcement custody
Booking Jail intake and identifiers
First appearance Rights, charges and release addressed
Filing stage Prosecutor files or changes charges
Pretrial Motions, negotiation and hearings
Disposition Dismissal, plea or trial result
Sentence or release Custody, probation or other order

Online access is not always the complete file. Some documents may be restricted, sealed, unavailable online or held by a municipal court. Contact the relevant clerk when you need a certified or complete copy.

Official state history

Order a Colorado CBI Criminal-History Check

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation Internet Criminal History Check provides a name-based Colorado-only criminal-history record. It is different from a county inmate search and is not a nationwide FBI background check.

What the service is for

Use ICHC when you need Colorado Criminal History Record Information based on a person’s name and other identity details.

What may be excluded

CBI explains that sealed cases, certain juvenile arrests and some other records are not displayed in the public result.

Important limitation

The result is Colorado-only and name-based. Review CBI’s current fees, exclusions and identity-matching guidance before purchasing.

Open the official CBI ICHC page

Go to Internet Criminal History Check.

Read the scope and current fee

Confirm that a Colorado-only, name-based record is appropriate for your purpose before paying.

Enter identity information carefully

Use the legal name, date of birth and other requested details. A similar name can produce a record belonging to someone else.

Review every match

Compare aliases, dates, arresting agencies, case information and dispositions where available.

Save the result securely

Record the search date and protect personal information. CBI-generated online checks may have certification or notarization limitations.

CBI background-check help: Call 303-239-4208. Published support hours are Monday–Friday, 7:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m., excluding closures and holidays.

Release guidance

Colorado Bail, Bond and Release Information

A bond is a formal agreement requiring the defendant to follow conditions such as appearing in court. The court sets the bond, and jail staff cannot promise when release processing will finish.

Personal recognizance

Release may occur without an upfront money deposit, subject to the court’s conditions.

Cash bond

Money is deposited as directed by the court or jail. Confirm refund and application rules.

Surety bond

A licensed bonding agent may execute the bond under the written agreement.

Property bond

Property may be accepted in qualifying cases under court procedures and documentation rules.

What to verify before paying

Defendant’s full name and booking number
Court and case number
Bond type and exact amount
Additional warrants or holds
Who is authorised to accept payment
Accepted payment methods
Release conditions and protection orders
Next court date and reporting requirements

Official explanation: Review the Colorado Judicial Branch page on types of bonds. The written bond and court order control the actual amount, conditions and release requirements.

Do not trust an online bond estimate. Bond depends on the court order and current case circumstances. A displayed amount may not reflect another hold, a warrant, processing delay or a later court change.

Legal help

Apply for a Colorado Public Defender or Find a Criminal Lawyer

A public defender represents qualifying people who cannot afford private counsel. The application requires financial information and must be submitted to an office serving the county where the case is filed.

Colorado Public Defender route
  1. Open the public-defender application guide.
  2. Complete the current court-provided application.
  3. Gather income, benefits, housing-cost and household documents requested by the application.
  4. Use the office finder and select the county where the case is filed.
  5. Ask whether the office accepts email, smartphone, mail or in-person submission.
  6. The court and eligibility process determine whether representation is approved.
Private lawyer route
  1. Use the Colorado Bar Association Find-A-Lawyer directory.
  2. Choose criminal law and the relevant county or region.
  3. Confirm the lawyer’s active status through the Colorado attorney search.
  4. Ask about experience with the charge and handling court.
  5. Request a written explanation of the fee and included work.
  6. Avoid anyone promising a guaranteed dismissal, sentence or release.

State Public Defender assistance: Call 303-764-1400. The statewide office publishes hours of 8 a.m.–5 p.m., Monday–Friday. Case-specific questions should go to the regional trial office serving the county.

Family and visitors

Colorado Inmate Visitation, Calls, Mail and Money

County-jail rules and CDOC prison rules are not interchangeable. Confirm the person’s current facility before opening an account, mailing a letter or making travel plans.

CDOC visitation

Complete the visitor application for the facility where the inmate is housed and wait for approval before scheduling travel.

County-jail visitation

Use the county jail’s inmate-services page. Some facilities use remote or on-site video appointments.

Calls and tablets

Use only the provider linked by the facility. Phone, tablet and commissary accounts may be separate.

Money and mail

Confirm the inmate number, facility and approved address before sending funds or correspondence.

CDOC visitor approval process

Confirm the current prison

Use the inmate locator and write down the DOC number and complete facility name.

Open the official visitor information

Read the CDOC approval process.

Submit one adult per application

Complete the application accurately. Minor visitors must be properly listed with the required parent, guardian or authorisation documentation.

Wait for approval

Do not arrive merely because the form was submitted. Facility administration controls approval and visiting-list status.

Check facility-specific schedules

Visiting days, capacity, check-in procedures and restrictions may differ between institutions.

Read entry and dress rules

Review the official visitation rules, identification requirements and prohibited items.

Bring accepted government photo identification.
Make sure the ID address matches the approved application.
Do not bring a phone, camera or unapproved property.
Confirm rules for medication and infant supplies.
Expect vehicle and property inspection on state grounds.
Call before travelling during severe weather or lockdowns.
Confirm the inmate was not transferred.
Follow the selected facility’s schedule, not another prison’s.

Sending money: Colorado DOC currently routes approved trust deposits through its published inmate-banking process and provider. Use the official CDOC or Colorado government page, enter the correct DOC number and last name, and keep the transaction confirmation. Inmate Bank questions: 719-269-4271.

Victim notification

Register for Colorado Custody and Case Notifications

Colorado VINE provides a free route for custody-status and criminal-case information where participating agencies supply the data. Registered users can request available notifications.

Search online

Open Colorado VINE and search by name or available identifier.

Register for alerts

Select the available phone, email, text or in-app notification method offered for the record.

Telephone access

Colorado VINE’s published toll-free number is 1-888-263-8463.

Safety reminder: Do not rely on one notification method for immediate personal safety. Keep contact information current and speak with the appropriate victim advocate, district attorney or law-enforcement agency about a safety plan.

Troubleshooting

Why a Colorado Arrest or Inmate Record May Be Missing

The booking process is not complete.
The person is held in another county.
The name is entered differently.
The person used a former or hyphenated surname.
The person has already been released.
The person was transferred to CDOC.
The detention is federal rather than state or county.
The matter is juvenile or legally restricted.
The case was sealed or automatically sealed.
The portal requires fewer search fields.
JavaScript, cookies or pop-ups are blocked.
The online system has not refreshed.
Too many people have the same name

Compare date of birth, booking number, DOC number, county, admission date, photograph and court case number.

The jail record disappeared

Check release information, CDOC, Colorado VINE and the court docket. The person may have been released or transferred.

Bond is shown but release has not occurred

Ask whether payment cleared, another hold exists, the court transmitted the release order and jail processing is complete.

The court search shows no case

Confirm the spelling, filing county, court type and whether the matter is municipal rather than county or district court.

A private site shows an old mugshot

Check the official court disposition and sealing status before contacting the private publisher.

The person may be federal

Use the Federal Bureau of Prisons locator and contact the arresting federal agency or federal court when appropriate.

Records and sealing

Request, Correct or Seal a Colorado Criminal Record

A court-file request, CBI record correction, arrest-record sealing and conviction-record sealing are separate procedures. Start by confirming exactly which record is inaccurate or publicly visible.

Obtain the official case and arrest numbers

Use the court clerk, arresting agency and CBI result to collect the case number, arrest number and agency information.

Confirm the final disposition

Request the dismissal, acquittal, sentence or other final order from the handling court.

Determine which sealing route applies

Open the Judicial Branch Seal My Case page.

Select the correct form group

The page provides separate instructions for arrests with no charges, non-convictions, convictions, municipal convictions, multiple cases and juvenile expungement.

Check automatic sealing separately

Use the Sealed Case Search when you need to confirm sealing under the specific automatic-sealing statute covered by that tool.

Contact CBI when the state history remains inaccurate

Use CBI’s record-update, disposition-update or sealing guidance after obtaining the appropriate official order.

Do not assume every case is eligible. Eligibility, waiting periods, restitution requirements, fees and filing procedures depend on the record type, offense and current law. Use the latest Judicial Branch form instructions.

Protect personal documents: Redact Social Security numbers, driver’s-license numbers, financial details and unrelated sensitive information before sending documents to a private website.

Statewide contacts

Colorado Criminal-Record Offices, Phone Numbers and Addresses

State offices handle statewide systems. Current county-jail custody, local release timing and county court documents should be directed to the sheriff or court handling the case.

Colorado Bureau of Investigation
690 Kipling Street, Suite 3000
Lakewood, CO 80215

Main: 303-239-4201
Background checks: 303-239-4208

Background-check support hours: Monday–Friday, 7:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

CBI records and background checks

Colorado Department of Corrections
1250 Academy Park Loop
Colorado Springs, CO 80910

Main: 719-579-9580
Constituent Services: 719-226-4569

Constituent Services hours: Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m., excluding state holidays.

CDOC Constituent Services

Colorado State Court Administrator
1300 Broadway, Suite 1200
Denver, CO 80203

Main: 720-625-5000
Toll-free: 800-888-0001

Official office information

Colorado State Public Defender

Main assistance: 303-764-1400

Office hours: Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.

Use the county-based office finder for applications and case-specific contact information.

Find a regional trial office

CBI Records Office

690 Kipling Street, Suite 3000
Lakewood, CO 80215

Open driving directions

Do not visit for county release information

CBI does not control a county jail’s current release time, visitation schedule or bond-processing status.

Call before travelling

Confirm whether the service is available in person, which identification is required and whether an online or mail process should be used instead.

Official resources

Verified Colorado Arrest and Criminal-Record Links

Frequently asked questions

Colorado Arrest Records FAQs

How do I search Colorado arrest records by name?

For a recent arrest, identify the county where the person was booked and use that sheriff or detention center’s official inmate search. Start with the last name, then compare the booking number, admission date, facility and identifying details.

Is there one statewide Colorado county-jail search?

No. Colorado county-jail custody is generally searched through individual sheriff or detention-center systems. CDOC provides a separate locator for people in the state-prison system.

How do I find a Colorado state-prison inmate?

Use the official Colorado inmate locator and search by DOC number or legal name. Confirm the DOC number, facility and status before arranging a visit, sending mail or depositing money.

Does a Colorado arrest record prove the person was convicted?

No. An arrest or booking record does not establish guilt. Use the Colorado Judicial Branch court-record and docket tools to check filed charges, case status and disposition.

How do I check a Colorado criminal court case?

Open Colorado Courts Records Search and the official docket search, then use the correct county, name, case number and date. Request documents from the handling court when the online result is incomplete.

What is the Colorado CBI criminal-history check?

CBI’s Internet Criminal History Check is a paid, name-based Colorado-only criminal-history search. It is different from a county inmate lookup and does not serve as a nationwide FBI record check.

Why is a recent Colorado arrest not appearing online?

Booking may still be processing, the name may be entered differently, the person may be held in another county, or the person may already have been released or transferred. Call the booking facility when the arrest is recent.

How do I apply for a Colorado public defender?

Complete the current public-defender application, gather the requested financial documents and submit the application to a regional trial office serving the county where the case is filed. Eligibility and appointment must be approved through the proper process.

How do I receive Colorado inmate release notifications?

Use Colorado VINE to search participating custody records and register for available phone, email, text or in-app notifications. The published Colorado VINE number is 1-888-263-8463.

How can I seal a Colorado arrest or criminal record?

Use the Colorado Judicial Branch Seal My Case page and select the form group matching the record, such as an arrest with no charges, non-conviction, conviction, municipal conviction, multiple cases or juvenile expungement. Eligibility depends on the record and current law.

Official-resource review completed August 3, 2026

This independent guide is not affiliated with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, Colorado Department of Corrections, Colorado Judicial Branch, Colorado State Public Defender, County Sheriffs of Colorado, any county detention facility or Arrests.org.

Official links, statewide contacts and selected county inmate-search routes were reviewed for this article. Custody, bond, visitation, provider, fee, office-hour and portal information can change. Confirm time-sensitive details directly with the responsible agency.

Responsible-use notice: An arrest is not a conviction. Do not use a booking or mugshot listing to harass someone or to make employment, housing, lending, insurance or other decisions that require a legally compliant consumer report.