Adams County Arrest Records

Arrests occur in Adams County when law enforcement possesses probable cause that a person has committed a crime. Most inmates are placed in Adams County’s Detention Facility, which serves as an actual holding facility for most individuals, pending trial or sentencing. The Sheriff's Office generates county arrest records and shares this document with other agencies in the criminal justice system. For example, some of the information in arrest records are also available in Adams County court records, especially if the arrestee was arraigned.

Are Arrest Records Public in Adams County?

Yes. Generally, Adams County arrest records are public. Requests for arrest records are covered under Colorado state’s Open Records Act (C.R.S. §24-72-201 to 206) and the Colorado Criminal Justice Records Act (CCJRA) (C.R.S. §24-72-301 to 309). However, these laws restrict the disclosure of records containing sensitive information or details whose release may compromise an individual’s privacy or security. For example, information on minors, juvenile offenders, and crime victims is not available.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Per C.R.S. § 24-72-30, an arrest record contains the following information:

• Name of the accused person
• Birth date of the accused person
• Last-known address of the accused person
• Sex of the accused person
• Nature of the charges brought or the offenses alleged
• Identity of the criminal justice agency taking official action
• Date and place of the official action.

Adams County Crime Rate

The Colorado Uniform Crime Reporting Program (UCR) releases yearly crime statistics for Adams County. According to the 2023 UCR report, Adams County law enforcement reported 3,207 offenses in said year. Property crimes were the most common, making up 76% (2,427) of the total, while violent crimes constituted 14% (459), and domestic violence made up 9% (281).

Within the property crimes category, larceny (theft) was the most prevalent, accounting for 49% (1,198) of all property crimes. Motor vehicle theft followed at 33% (792), with burglary at 9% (221), fraud at 9% (216), and robbery at 2% (40). Violent crimes included aggravated assault, murder, and non-consensual sex offenses. These offenses totalled 459 cases, making up 14% of the total crime.

Adams County Arrest Statistics

Per the UCR 2023 report, Adams County recorded 283 arrests in 2023. Of those, 142 (50.2%) were for violent crime assaults: murder, non-consensual sex offenses, aggravated assault, and robbery. D.U.I. and drug-related offenses make up 141 of the arresting incidents (49.8%). Of the violent crime category, it was almost exactly half of violent crimes and half of D.U.I./drug-related offenses, at essentially the same percentage rate as the total number of reported arrests.

Find Adams County Arrest Records

To find arrested individuals in Adams County, contact the arresting agency — which is usually the Sheriff’s Office unless a state or federal criminal justice agency was involved.

4430 S. Adams County Parkway
1st Floor, Suite W5400
Brighton, CO 80601.
Phone: (303) 654-1850

Contacting the Adams County Detention Facility is another option, as it also holds arrestees before arraignment. Individuals should use the facility's online inmate search tool to determine if an arrestee is held there. Individuals can conduct searches by filling in last name and first name.

Free Arrest Record Search in Adams County

Aside from in-person requests, the Adams County sheriff's website offers an online inmate search tool that interested persons can use to find current inmates housed in the Adams County Detention Facility at no cost. Searches can be done by filling in last name and first name.

Alternatively, county arrest records can be accessed for free through third-party online services. However, note that these services are not affiliated with the county law enforcement agency. Thus, the accuracy of the information obtained from such sources is not guaranteed.

Get Adams County Criminal Records

Criminal records are official documents detailing an individual or entity's interactions with the legal system. These include reports of arrests, charges, convictions, sentences, and incarcerations. This kind of document, able to provide a complete record of dealings between an individual and the criminal justice system, is maintained at different police stations, courts of law, and correctional institutions.

Colorado operates under an open records policy for criminal records (CRS 24-72-305). Thus, anyone may access Adams County criminal history information. However, sealed records are not available for release, and juvenile records are generally inaccessible to the public.

Criminal history reports can be accessed via the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (Department of Public Safety)’s Internet Criminal History Check (ICHC) for a fee of $6.00 per result, payable by credit card. Users must create an account, pay charges, and conduct searches to get instant feedback.

For an official or notarized response on C.B.I. letterhead, or if using a payment method other than a credit card, a written petition must be submitted to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation for a manual search, costing $13.00. The Form is available online and will be mailed to cdps.cbi.biru.dis@state.co.us after applicants fill it out. Personal checks are not accepted. The process may take up to three business days, with the results mailed back to the applicant upon completion.

Adams County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Though associated, criminal and arrest records have different purposes. In Adams County, the difference must be understood to accurately interpret an individual's interaction with the criminal justice system.

Arrest records are prepared by the police when a person is taken into custody, usually suspicion of commissions of a particular offense. It contains all the details of the arrest, including the date and time of the arrest, the place of arrest, charges filed against him, and the name of the arresting officer. The record also mentions booking details like mugshots, fingerprints, and the arrestee's personal information, which can also be found in the arrest records. An important distinction to draw, however, is that an arrest record is not indicative of the person in question having been charged with anything, found guilty, or convicted of anything; it simply means they were arrested.

Criminal records, however, encompass a lot of information about a person's entire record of criminal activity. Specifically, these records contain all activities from arrests to charges, takedowns of court proceedings, conviction sentences, and incarcerations. Criminal records maintained by the police, courts, correctional facilities, and other relevant government repositories give a complete view of how an individual interacts with the criminal justice system. Other than the information found in arrest records, criminal records also contain plea bargains, trial results, sentencing results, or any information on parole or probation.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Permanently. All arrest records in Colorado are permanent but may be sealed upon court order. Multiple factors can, however, affect how long an arrest can stay publicly available on a person's record. These include the retention schedule of the custodial agency and whether a criminal charge was filed or if there was a conviction consequent to the arrest. How long the information can stay publicly available may be determined by the retention schedule of the agency maintaining the record.

Expunge Adams County Arrest Records

Generally, persons who wish to seal non-conviction arrest records must meet certain eligibility conditions.

• The arrestee was acquitted.
• The case was dismissed.
• The individual has completed a diversion agreement per (C.R.S. § 18-1.3-101).
• Arrest record without charges, and the longest statute of limitations for the offense has expired.
• Arrest record without charges, the statute of limitations has not expired and is no longer being investigated by law enforcement.

After confirming eligibility, qualified individuals may submit a petition to the Adams County District Court. This involves completing and filling out the JDF 417 form to request the sealing of any arrest and criminal records information related to the person in interest, excluding basic identification information.

The filing fee is $224. If payment is not attainable, individuals should complete the Motion to File without Payment and Supporting Financial Affidavit (JDF 205) and tendered to the Court. The Court will review the JDF 205 form and a blank Order (JDF 206) and then decide if the fee must be paid.

The process for sealing conviction arrest records depends on the offense. For controlled substance convictions before July 1, 2008, individuals must file a Petition to Seal using Form JDF 612 with the Adams County District Court or the appropriate county court within the following proviso:

• The prosecuting attorney must not oppose the sealing.
• All reasonable attorney fees and costs related to the Petition to Seal must be paid to the prosecuting attorney's office before the order sealing the conviction records is entered.
• The required filing fee must be paid. The filing fee is $224.

For controlled substance convictions between July 1, 2008, and July 1, 2011, individuals must file a Petition to Seal using Form JDF 612 with the court within the following conditions:

• The petition is filed ten or more years after the final disposition of all criminal proceedings or release from supervision, whichever is later.
• The individual has not been charged or convicted of any criminal offense in those ten years.

For controlled substance convictions on or after July 1, 2011, individuals must file a Petition to Seal using Form JDF 612 with the court within the following parameters:

• For petty drug offenses, file one year after final disposition or release from supervision.
• For petty offenses, class 2 or 3 misdemeanors, or level 2 drug misdemeanors, file three years after final disposition or release from supervision.
• For class 1 misdemeanors or level 1 drug misdemeanors, file five years after final disposition or release from supervision.
• For level 4 drug felonies or specific class 5 or 6 felonies, file seven years after final disposition or release from supervision.
• For other offenses under Article 18, file ten years after final disposition or free from supervision.

For petty offense and municipal violation convictions, individuals must file a Petition to Seal using Form JDF 612 with the court within the following parameters:

• File the petition three years after the final disposition of all criminal proceedings or free from supervision, whichever is later.
• Have no felony, misdemeanor, or misdemeanor traffic convictions in the past three years.
• The conviction is not for a misdemeanor traffic offense committed by a commercial driver's license, learner's permit holder, or a commercial motor vehicle operator as defined in §42-2-402, C.R.S.

For information or questions, interested parties can check here for statutory requirements and procedures.

Adams County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant is a legal document authorized by a judge or a magistrate, which lets law enforcement arrest an offender. Per C.R.S. §16-1-106, the court may issue arrest warrants for Adams County electronically. The peace officer's application should be in writing and accompanied by a sworn or affirmed affidavit. The application is electronically or electromagnetically transmitted to the court with relevant electronic signatures. The court may administer the oath or affirmation to the affiant over the telephone, who then electronically transmits the written affidavit to the court for approval.

An Adams County Arrest Warrant shows the following information:

• Defendant’s name
• The Offense Charged
• Date Issued
• Jurisdiction of the warrant.
• A Command for Arrest
• Signature of Issuing Authority
• Description of the Defendant.

Adams County Arrest Warrant Search

The Adams County Sheriff's Office maintains an online database where active warrants can be searched by entering personal details such as the individual's first name, last name, and date of birth.

Do Adams County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. Adams County arrest warrants typically remain active indefinitely until they are executed or recalled by the issuing judge. Factors influencing warrant status include the crime's severity, the individual's apprehension, and legal actions like terminating the warrant. Although the issuing authority may check up on these warrants periodically, they are otherwise effective indefinitely.