Adams County Public Records /Adams County Criminal Records

Adams County Criminal Records

What Is Adams County Criminal Records

Criminal records in Adams County, Colorado, are official government documents that chronicle an individual's interactions with the criminal justice system, from initial law enforcement contact through final court disposition. These records are maintained by multiple agencies across the county and state, each responsible for a distinct segment of the criminal justice process.

Key distinctions among criminal record types include:

Arrest records vs. conviction records: An arrest record documents that law enforcement took an individual into custody; it does not indicate guilt. A conviction record reflects a formal finding of guilt entered by a court of law.
Felony vs. misdemeanor: Felonies are serious offenses classified under Colorado Revised Statutes § 18-1.3-401 and carry potential sentences exceeding one year in a state correctional facility. Misdemeanors are less severe offenses typically resulting in county jail sentences or fines.
Adult vs. juvenile records: Adult criminal records are generally accessible to the public. Juvenile records are presumptively confidential and may be sealed pursuant to Colorado law, limiting access to authorized parties only.
Active warrants vs. historical records: Active warrants represent current court orders authorizing arrest; historical records document past charges, proceedings, and dispositions that may or may not have resulted in conviction.

Criminal records in Adams County may include charges filed, arraignment proceedings, pleas entered, trial outcomes, sentencing details, and probation or parole conditions. The principal agencies responsible for maintaining these records are:

Adams County Sheriff's Office — maintains arrest records, booking information, and jail records
Adams County District Court — maintains case filings, court proceedings, and final dispositions, accessible through the Adams County | Colorado Judicial Branch
Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) — maintains statewide criminal history records
Local municipal police departments — maintain records of arrests and incidents occurring within their respective jurisdictions

Are Criminal Records Public In Adams County

Adult criminal records in Adams County are generally available to the public under Colorado's open records framework. The Colorado Criminal Justice Records Act, C.R.S. § 24-72-301 et seq., governs access to criminal justice records and establishes the presumption that such records are open to inspection by any member of the public unless a specific statutory exemption applies.

Under current law, the following categories of records are accessible to the public:

Adult conviction records, including charges, pleas, verdicts, and sentences
Court proceedings and case dockets maintained by the District Court
Booking and arrest information held by the Sheriff's Office
Sex offender registration information as required by state law

The following categories are restricted or exempt from public disclosure:

Records pertaining to ongoing criminal investigations, where disclosure could compromise law enforcement operations
Juvenile criminal records, which are sealed by default and accessible only to the juvenile, their legal guardian, attorneys of record, and certain authorized agencies
Sealed or expunged adult records, where a court has ordered the record closed
Victim identifying information in certain sensitive case types

How To Look Up Criminal Records In Adams County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain criminal records in Adams County through several official channels. The process varies depending on the type of record sought and the agency that maintains it.

Step 1 — Identify the appropriate agency. Determine whether the record sought is an arrest/booking record (Sheriff's Office), a court case record (District Court Clerk), or a statewide criminal history (Colorado Bureau of Investigation).

Step 2 — Submit a request to the Sheriff's Office. For arrest records, booking information, and incident reports, members of the public may submit a public records request directly to the Adams County Sheriff's Office. Requests may be submitted in person, by mail, or through the agency's online portal.

Adams County Sheriff's Office 4430 S. Adams County Pkwy, Brighton, CO 80601 (720) 322-1313 Adams County Sheriff Office

Public counter hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Step 3 — Request court records from the District Court Clerk. For case filings, dispositions, sentencing records, and court orders, members of the public may contact the Adams County District Court Clerk's Office. 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

Step 4 — Request a statewide background check through CBI. For a comprehensive criminal history report, individuals may submit a fingerprint-based background check request to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. This process requires submission of fingerprints and payment of the applicable fee.

Step 5 — Provide required identifying information. All requests should include the subject's full legal name, date of birth, and any known case or booking numbers to facilitate accurate record retrieval.

How To Find Criminal Records in Adams County Online?

Several official online portals currently provide access to Adams County criminal records without requiring an in-person visit.

Colorado Judicial Branch — Case Search (ICCES): The Integrated Colorado Courts E-Filing System allows members of the public to search court case records by name, case number, or filing date. This portal contains case dockets, charges, hearing dates, and dispositions for cases filed in Adams County District Court. Access is available at the Colorado Judicial Branch case search portal.
Adams County Sheriff's Office — Inmate Search: The Sheriff's Office maintains a publicly accessible online roster of individuals currently held at the Adams County Detention Facility. The inmate search tool allows users to search by name and returns booking information, charges, and bond status. No registration is required to use this tool.
Adams County Clerk and Recorder — Recording Search: The Recording department maintains an online database of recorded public documents, including real estate records and related instruments. While not a criminal records portal, this resource may be relevant in civil matters connected to criminal proceedings.

Records available exclusively in person include sealed case files, certain law enforcement investigative reports, and historical records predating electronic filing systems.

Can You Search Adams County Criminal Records for Free?

Under C.R.S. § 24-72-306, custodians of criminal justice records are required to allow inspection of public records at no charge. Fees may be assessed only for the actual cost of duplicating records or for research time exceeding a reasonable threshold established by the agency.

The following resources are currently available at no cost to members of the public:

Colorado Judicial Branch Case Search — Free online access to court case dockets, charges, and dispositions for Adams County cases
Adams County Sheriff's Office Inmate Search — Free online access to current jail roster and booking information via the inmate search tool
In-person inspection at the District Court Clerk's Office — Members of the public may inspect court records at the public counter during business hours at no charge
In-person inspection at the Sheriff's Office — Public records may be reviewed in person at no cost; fees apply only for copies

Fees are typically assessed for certified copies of court documents, fingerprint-based background checks processed through CBI, and bulk data requests.

What's Included in a Adams County Criminal Record?

A complete criminal record maintained by Adams County agencies and the Colorado court system may contain the following categories of information:

Identifying Information

Full legal name and known aliases
Date of birth and physical description (height, weight, eye and hair color)
Photograph (mugshot) taken at time of booking
Last known address
State Identification Number (SID) and FBI number where applicable

Arrest Information

Date, time, and location of arrest
Arresting agency and officer
Booking number and detention facility
Charges filed at time of arrest
Bail or bond amount and conditions
Jail facility assignment

Court Case Information

Case number and court jurisdiction
Filing date and assigned judge
Charges and applicable statutes, including felony or misdemeanor classification
Plea entered (guilty, not guilty, no contest)
Attorney of record information

Disposition

Verdict and conviction date
Sentencing details, including type and length of sentence, fines, restitution, and special conditions
Appeals filed and outcomes
Probation or parole terms and supervising agency

Additional Record Elements

Active or recalled warrants
Protective or restraining orders
Sex offender registration status
DUI/DWI convictions and related administrative actions
Traffic violations adjudicated in criminal court
Pending charges and scheduled hearing dates

How Long Does Adams County Keep Criminal Records?

Adams County and the State of Colorado maintain criminal records according to retention schedules established under state law and administrative rule. Under C.R.S. § 24-80-101 et seq., public agencies are required to retain records for periods specified in approved retention schedules issued by the Colorado State Archives.

Current retention periods for principal criminal record categories include:

Arrest and booking records: Retained permanently for felony arrests; misdemeanor arrest records are generally retained for a minimum of seven years
Court case files — felony convictions: Retained permanently by the District Court Clerk
Court case files — misdemeanor convictions: Retained for a minimum of ten years following case closure
Acquittals and dismissed cases: Retained for a minimum of seven years; subject to sealing or expungement upon petition
Juvenile records: Retained until the subject reaches age 28, at which point records may be eligible for destruction unless the case involved a serious felony
Sex offender registration records: Retained for the duration of the registration requirement, which may be lifetime under Colorado law
Incident and investigative reports: Retention periods vary by offense classification, ranging from three years for minor incidents to permanent retention for homicide and other serious felonies

Agencies responsible for record retention include the Adams County Sheriff's Office, the Adams County District Court Clerk, and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, each of which follows the applicable state-mandated schedule.