Adams County Arrest Records
Are Arrest Records Public in Adams County
Arrest records in Adams County, Colorado, are generally considered public records under state law. Pursuant to the Colorado Criminal Justice Records Act, codified at § 24-72-301 et seq. of the Colorado Revised Statutes, criminal justice records — including arrest records — are presumptively open to public inspection unless a specific statutory exemption applies. Members of the public may inspect these records at the custodial agency, subject to any applicable restrictions.
It is important to distinguish between an arrest record and a conviction record. An arrest record documents the act of being taken into custody by law enforcement and does not indicate guilt or a criminal conviction. A conviction record, by contrast, reflects a formal finding of guilt entered by a court of law. Under Colorado law, an individual who is arrested but not subsequently charged or convicted retains the right to petition for sealing of that arrest record, as further described below.
The Adams County Sheriff's Office serves as the primary custodian of arrest and booking records generated within the county's unincorporated areas and the county detention facility. Municipal police departments within Adams County maintain separate records for arrests occurring within their respective jurisdictions.
What's in Adams County Arrest Records
Adams County arrest records contain a standardized set of data fields compiled at the time of booking and throughout the custodial process. The specific contents of an arrest record may vary depending on the arresting agency and the nature of the incident.
Arrestee Identifying Information:
- Full legal name and known aliases
- Date of birth and age at time of arrest
- Physical descriptors (height, weight, hair color, eye color)
- Race and gender
- Last known residential address
Arrest Details:
- Date, time, and location of arrest
- Name and badge number of arresting officer
- Arresting agency (e.g., Adams County Sheriff's Office, Aurora Police Department)
- Incident or case number
Charge Information:
- Specific criminal charges filed
- Statute(s) allegedly violated, including Colorado Revised Statutes citations
- Classification of offense (felony, misdemeanor, petty offense, or municipal violation)
Warrant Information (if applicable):
- Warrant number and issuing court
- Type of warrant (arrest warrant, bench warrant, or fugitive warrant)
- Jurisdiction of originating warrant
Booking Information:
- Booking number assigned by the detention facility
- Date and time of booking
- Facility where the individual was booked
Bond/Bail Information:
- Bond type (personal recognizance, cash bond, surety bond)
- Bond amount set by the court or pretrial services
- Bond conditions, if any
Court Information:
- Assigned court and case number
- Scheduled arraignment or hearing dates
- Presiding judicial officer, where applicable
Custody Status:
- Current custody status (in custody, released, transferred)
- Release date and method of release
Additional Information May Include:
- Fingerprint records and booking photographs (mugshots)
- Narrative arrest report prepared by the arresting officer
- Property inventory of items seized at the time of arrest
How To Look Up Arrest Records in Adams County in 2026
Members of the public seeking arrest records in Adams County may obtain them through several official channels. The process is governed by § 24-72-303 of the Colorado Revised Statutes, which establishes the procedures for requesting criminal justice records from custodial agencies.
- Identify the custodial agency. Determine which law enforcement agency made the arrest. Arrests in unincorporated Adams County are handled by the Sheriff's Office; arrests within city limits are handled by the relevant municipal police department.
- Prepare a written request. Submit a written public records request to the appropriate agency. The Adams County Sheriff's Office provides an official records request form on its website.
- Provide identifying information. Include the full name of the subject, approximate date of arrest, and any known case or booking numbers to facilitate the search.
- Pay applicable fees. Agencies may charge fees for research, copying, and certification of records. The Sheriff's Office publishes a current fee schedule alongside its records request portal.
- Await agency response. Under Colorado law, the custodial agency must respond to a records request within three business days, either by providing the records, denying the request with a written explanation, or notifying the requester that additional time is needed.
- Appeal a denial if necessary. If a request is denied, the requester may seek judicial review in the district court pursuant to applicable provisions of the Colorado Criminal Justice Records Act.
Adams County Sheriff's Office — Records Division 4430 S. Adams County Pkwy, Brighton, CO 80601 (720) 322-1313 Adams County Sheriff's Office
How To Find Adams County Arrest Records Online
Several official online resources currently provide access to Adams County arrest and custody information without requiring an in-person visit.
The Adams County Sheriff's Office maintains a publicly accessible online portal where members of the public may search for individuals currently held in the county detention facility. The inmate search tool allows users to query the detention roster by name and returns booking information, charges, and custody status for individuals currently or recently in custody. The disclaimer accompanying this tool notes that criminal justice records obtained through the portal may not be used for solicitation of business for monetary gain.
Court records associated with criminal cases filed in Adams County are accessible through the Colorado Judicial Branch online case search system. This system provides case-level information including charges, hearing dates, and case dispositions for matters filed in the Adams County District Court and Adams County Court. The Adams County courts page provides direct access to local court information and filing schedules.
The Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) also maintains a statewide criminal history repository accessible to the public for name-based background checks, subject to applicable fees and identity verification requirements.
How To Search Adams County Arrest Records for Free?
Members of the public may access certain Adams County arrest records at no cost through the following official channels.
The inmate search portal operated by the Adams County Sheriff's Office is available free of charge and provides current booking and custody information for individuals held at the Adams County Detention Facility. No account registration or fee is required to conduct a search.
Court case information available through the Colorado Judicial Branch online search system is also accessible at no cost for basic case lookups. Users may search by party name or case number to retrieve publicly available docket entries, charge information, and hearing schedules.
In-person inspection of arrest records at the Sheriff's Office Records Division or the Adams County District Court Clerk's Office is permitted without charge, though fees may apply for printed copies. The Adams County District Court Clerk's Office is located at the Adams County Justice Center and is open to the public Monday through Friday; note that the Clerk's Office is currently closed to the public on the fourth Wednesday of each month from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Adams County District Court — Clerk's Office 1100 Judicial Center Dr, Brighton, CO 80601 (303) 659-1161 Adams County | Colorado Judicial Branch
How To Delete Arrest Records in Adams County
Colorado law provides two distinct legal remedies for individuals seeking to limit public access to arrest records: expungement and sealing. These remedies are not identical and apply under different circumstances.
Expungement refers to the physical destruction of records and is available in Colorado primarily for juvenile records under § 19-1-306 of the Colorado Revised Statutes. Adult criminal records are generally not subject to expungement under current law.
Sealing restricts public access to a record without destroying it. Sealed records remain accessible to law enforcement and certain government agencies but are not available to the general public or most employers. Under § 24-72-706 of the Colorado Revised Statutes, individuals may petition to seal arrest records in the following circumstances:
- The arrest did not result in criminal charges being filed
- Charges were filed but subsequently dismissed
- The individual was acquitted at trial
- The conviction was vacated or reversed on appeal
- Certain low-level drug offense convictions, subject to waiting periods and eligibility criteria
Steps to Petition for Sealing:
- Obtain the official petition form from the Colorado Judicial Branch website or the Adams County District Court Clerk's Office.
- File the completed petition with the Adams County District Court, along with any required filing fee (fee waivers may be available for qualifying individuals).
- Serve copies of the petition on the District Attorney's Office and any other agencies listed as record custodians.
- Attend the scheduled hearing, at which the court will determine whether sealing is appropriate under the applicable statutory criteria.
- If the petition is granted, the court issues a sealing order directing all named agencies to restrict public access to the specified records.
What Happens After Arrest in Adams County?
The criminal justice process in Adams County follows a structured sequence of events from the point of arrest through final case disposition.
Upon arrest, the individual is transported to the Adams County Detention Facility for booking. During booking, identifying information is recorded, fingerprints and photographs are taken, and charges are formally entered into the system. A pretrial services assessment may be conducted to inform bail and release decisions.
Within 48 hours of arrest (or the next available court date), the individual appears before a judge for an advisement hearing. At this proceeding, the court informs the defendant of the charges, advises them of their constitutional rights, and sets conditions of release or bond. The Adams County District Court handles felony and serious misdemeanor matters, while the Adams County Court handles lower-level misdemeanors and traffic offenses.
Following advisement, the case proceeds through preliminary hearings (for felonies), arraignment, pretrial motions, and, if not resolved by plea agreement, trial. Upon conviction, the court conducts a sentencing hearing. Cases resulting in acquittal, dismissal, or deferred judgment may be eligible for record sealing as described above.
How Long Are Arrest Records Kept in Adams County?
Arrest records in Adams County are subject to retention schedules established under Colorado state law and applicable local policies. The Colorado Secretary of State's office publishes retention schedules for local government records, and law enforcement agencies are required to comply with these standards.
Under current Colorado law, arrest records that did not result in conviction are generally retained for a minimum period before becoming eligible for sealing or destruction pursuant to agency policy. Records associated with felony arrests are typically retained for longer periods than those associated with misdemeanor or petty offense arrests. Conviction records are ordinarily maintained permanently as part of the official criminal history repository administered by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.
Different agencies within Adams County maintain separate retention schedules. The Sheriff's Office, municipal police departments, the District Attorney's Office, and the courts each retain records according to their respective statutory obligations. Records retention serves the dual purpose of preserving evidence for ongoing or future legal proceedings and maintaining accountability within the criminal justice system.
Members of the public seeking specific retention period information may submit a written inquiry to the Adams County Sheriff's Office Records Division or the Adams County District Court Clerk's Office.
How to Find Mugshots in Adams County
What Mugshots Are
A mugshot is a standardized booking photograph taken by law enforcement at the time an individual is processed into a detention facility. Mugshots are part of the official booking record and are created for identification purposes.
Where Mugshots Are Maintained
Mugshots taken in connection with Adams County arrests are maintained by the Adams County Sheriff's Office as part of the booking record. The originating law enforcement agency retains the photograph as part of the arrest file.
Finding Mugshots
Members of the public may request booking photographs through the Adams County Sheriff's Office Records Division by submitting a public records request. Requests should include the subject's full name, date of birth, and approximate date of arrest or booking number.
Can They Be Found Online
The Adams County Sheriff's Office does not currently publish a comprehensive online mugshot gallery. However, booking photographs for individuals currently in custody may appear in connection with inmate records accessible through the Sheriff's Office online portal.
Obtaining Mugshots Officially
Official copies of booking photographs may be obtained by submitting a written records request to the Sheriff's Office Records Division. Applicable copying fees apply as set forth in the agency's published fee schedule.
Restrictions on Mugshot Access
Under Colorado law, criminal justice records — including booking photographs — obtained through official channels may not be used for commercial solicitation purposes. Third-party websites that publish mugshots for profit and charge fees for removal may be subject to legal restrictions under Colorado consumer protection statutes.
Adams County Sheriff's Office 4430 S. Adams County Pkwy, Brighton, CO 80601 (720) 322-1313 Adams County Sheriff's Office