El Paso County Arrest Records

An arrest record is an official report of a person's apprehension or apprehension history (per Section 24-72-302 of the Colorado Revised Statutes). Law enforcement officers apprehend and often detain individuals when they are suspected of a criminal offense in El Paso County. Upon arresting a person, the arresting agency generates an arrest record when the individual is booked into custody. During the booking process, their personal information, charges, and details about the arrest are recorded. This includes taking mugshots and fingerprints. Once booked, this information becomes part of the arrestee's official arrest record.

The El Paso County Sheriff's Office is the custodian of arrest records in El Paso County. However, each municipal police department creates and maintains arrest records for arrests made within its jurisdiction in El Paso County. Arrest records can be obtained from either the Sheriff's Office or a municipal police department. They may also appear in other public files from local or state agencies, including El Paso County Court Records from the judiciary or criminal history records from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Are Arrest Records Public in El Paso County?

Yes. Arrest records are public in El Paso County under the Colorado Criminal Justice Records Act (CCJRA). The Act governs public access to arrest records in El Paso County. It mandates that criminal justice records, including arrest records, be open to the public and released upon request. Thus, interested parties can request to inspect or obtain copies of arrest records from the local law enforcement agency in El Paso County.

However, under the CCJRA, some arrest information or records may be exempt from public disclosure. These include personal information like passwords, personal email addresses, Social Security numbers, passport numbers, bank account information, and any other information that would identify any victim of sexual assault. Additionally, information related to ongoing law enforcement investigations, records that may endanger public safety, and records involving juveniles may be sequestered from public access.

To access exempt records, individuals must demonstrate a legitimate need, provide a court order, or meet statutory requirements for access, such as signing a statement affirming that the records will not be used for the direct solicitation of business for pecuniary gain (Section 24-72-304(1)).

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

An El Paso County arrest record typically contains:

• Personal details: Name, aliases, Date of birth
• Physical descriptors: Height, eye/hair color, race, gender, and marks (like tattoos or scars)
• Fingerprint and mugshot
• Charges and crime classification
• Arrest time, date, and location
• Arresting officer and agency
• Description of circumstances leading to the arrest
• Bail amount
• Booking number
• Description of the circumstances leading to the arrest.

El Paso County Crime Rate

According to the 2023 crime data for El Paso County available on the Colorado Division of Criminal Justice ORS' dashboard, El Paso County recorded 31,363 crimes in 2023. Property crimes accounted for 75% of these, totaling 23,518 crimes. Violent crimes accounted for 14.29%, totaling 4,485 crimes. Drug crimes made up 7.59% with 2,383 crimes, and weapons crimes accounted for the remaining 3.11% with 997 crimes.

Violent crimes included 3,046 aggravated assaults, 37 homicides, 431 robberies, and 971 sexual assault cases. Property crimes consisted of 211 arson, 3,243 burglaries, 15,165 larceny/thefts, and 4,896 motor vehicle thefts. Based on the ORS data, the top crimes in El Paso County in 2023 were larceny/theft, motor vehicle theft, burglary, aggravated assault, sexual assault, and robbery.

El Paso County Arrest Statistics

Per the arrest by county data released by the Office of Research and Statistics (ORS) of the Colorado Division of Criminal Justice, El Paso County recorded 8,151 arrests in 2023. Of these, 1,646 were for violent crimes, 3,271 for property crimes, 1,359 for drugs, 1,605 for DUI, and 270 for weapons offenses. Violent crimes included 1,335 aggravated assault arrests, 20 homicide arrests, 185 robbery arrests, and 106 sexual assault arrests. Property crime arrests included 616 for auto theft, 43 for arson, 590 for burglary, and 2,022 for larceny/theft.

Find El Paso County Arrest Records

Individuals seeking El Paso County arrest records should direct their requests to the El Paso County Sheriff's Office. The sheriff's office creates, maintains, and releases arrest records upon request, subject to statutory exemptions. These records include booking reports and mugshots. To obtain these records, interested individuals should complete the Request Criminal Justice Records form and submit it in person at the Sheriff's Office during business hours or by mail at the following address:

Office of the Sheriff
27 East Vermijo Avenue
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
Phone: (719) 520-717
Fax: (719) 520-7171

Alternatively, individuals can submit their requests for El Paso County arrest records to the sheriff's office by e-mail or through the online request form. For reports up to 10 pages, an $8.00 review-and-redaction fee applies. For reports over 10 pages, the fee is $8.00 plus $0.25 per page.

To expedite requests, inquirers should provide detailed information about the record subject, including the case booking number, date and time of the arrest, location of the arrest, arrestee's name, and arresting officer's name.

Additionally, interested parties can find arrest records for persons arrested by municipal police departments from the respective municipal police departments. For instance, arrest records for individuals arrested by the Colorado Springs Police Department can be requested through the CSPD online request portal.

Meanwhile, interested individuals can search the Federal Inmate Locator for arrests by the FBI by name or number. For arrests by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), individuals can use the Online Detainee Locator System or contact a local ICE field office.

Free Arrest Record Search in El Paso County

Under the Colorado Criminal Justice Records Act (CCJRA), interested parties can request and obtain arrest records from the El Paso County Sheriff's Office and various municipal police departments in the county. However, local law enforcement agencies in El Paso County do not offer free options to obtain or look up arrest records. To review an arrest record from the sheriff's office, individuals must pay an $8 review-and-redaction fee for reports up to 10 pages. Municipal police departments also charge a fee for access to their arrest records.

Third-party aggregate sites compile public information from various law enforcement agencies, including arrest records. Individuals can search these databases using the first and last names of the person of interest to look up arrest records from El Paso County. While basic arrest reports may be accessed for free on third-party sites, they often charge a fee for more detailed and comprehensive records.

Get El Paso County Criminal Records

A criminal record (sometimes called criminal history or rap sheet) is official documentation of a person's criminal case history and involvement with the criminal justice system. It is a detailed account that includes information about a person's arrests, criminal charges filed, convictions, sentences imposed by the court, and the ultimate dispositions on each criminal offense. A criminal record provides a complete and broad picture of a person's interaction with the local, state, and federal criminal justice system. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) maintains a centralized database of criminal records across Colorado, including El Paso County.

To obtain El Paso County criminal records, interested individuals should submit their requests online or by mail to the CBI. For online requests, visit the Internet Criminal History Check System (each search costs $5.00). For mail-in requests, complete a Public Request for Criminal History Record Information form. The processing fee is $13.00, payable by money order, credit card, or business/cashier check. Checks should be payable to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and dated within 90 days.

Send the completed form and payment to:

Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI)
Identification Unit
690 Kipling Street—Suite 3000
Denver, CO 80215.

Alternatively, interested individuals may submit an El Paso County criminal record request to the El Paso County Sheriff's Office in person, by e-mail, or online.

Office of the Sheriff
27 East Vermijo Avenue
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
Phone: (719) 520-7177

They may also contact a municipal police department in El Paso County to request a local criminal record, also known as a local background check. For instance, to request local criminal records from the Colorado Springs Police Department Records Unit, interested parties should utilize their Public Records Request Submission portal. The cost to obtain a local criminal record from the CSPD is $7.50. This amount may increase depending on the size of the requested record and the time needed to process the request.

El Paso County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

An El Paso County arrest record is an official document or file containing an arrest's details, such as the arrestee's personal information, charges, arrest date/time/location, and the arresting agency. The law enforcement agency that made the arrest (the El Paso County Sheriff's Office or a municipal police department) is responsible for creating and maintaining an arrest record in El Paso County. An arrest record exists even if the charges against the arrested individual are later dropped or dismissed.

In contrast, a criminal record is a detailed dossier of a personal criminal history, including not just the arrest but any convictions, sentences, and final dispositions related to a criminal case after arrest. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is the custodian of criminal records in Colorado, including those from El Paso County.

While an arrest record solely documents the details of an arrest, a criminal record covers the entire history of a criminal case, from the initial arrest through any subsequent court proceedings and final disposition.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Indefinitely. Unless expunged or sealed according to Colorado law, a person's arrest remains on their record forever in El Paso County. While the state does not allow the destruction of arrest records, a party can request a court to seal or expunge their record if eligible. This limits or conceals the records from public access but does not necessarily remove or destroy the records from official files.

Expunge El Paso County Arrest Records

Individuals with an El Paso County arrest record may seal or expunge their arrest history under C.R.S. §§ 24–72–701, et seq. Expungement refers to the destruction or complete erasure of records while sealing conceals records from public inspection. However, under exceptional circumstances, a sealed or expunged record may be searched or retrieved with a court order or statutory authorization.

Per C.R.S. 24-72-704, individuals can petition the district court with jurisdiction to seal an arrest record if:

• Their charges were dismissed, dropped, or they were acquitted
• The party completed a diversion agreement per C.R.S. § 18-1.3-101, and no charges were filed
• No charges were filed, and the statute of limitations for the longest offense in the arrest record has expired
• No charges were filed, and the statute of limitations has not expired, but the party is no longer under investigation.

Additionally, arrested persons may have their arrest records sealed from public view under the following:

• Records other than convictions (C.R.S. 24-72-705)
• Criminal conviction records (C.R.S. 24-72-706)
• Conviction records for offenses committed by victims of human trafficking (C.R.S. 24-72-707)
• Conviction records for offenses that receive a full and unconditional pardon (C.R.S. 24-72-710).

To seal an arrest record, eligible individuals must complete the appropriate petition form, file it with a $224 filing fee with the El Paso County District Court, and pay any additional costs, such as fees for an arrest record search or arrest record copies from the arresting agency. Those unable to afford the fee can submit a Motion to Wave Fee form (Form JDF 205) to the court.

After receiving the petition, the court will decide whether to grant or deny the petition, with or without a hearing. If the petition is granted, the petitioner must provide a copy of the signed court order to the agencies named in the order, such as the El Paso County Sheriff's Office and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Notifying these agencies of the order may result in the arrest record not being sealed.

Per C.R.S. 24-72-701.5, arrest records can be completely expunged in cases of mistaken identity or juvenile arrests. To erase an arrest record under these circumstances, the arresting law enforcement agency must file a petition with the district court within 90 days of the arrest, and the court will expunge the record within 90 days of filing.

El Paso County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant is a written order authorizing the arrest and detention of the person named in the order. In El Paso County, a judge or magistrate issues and signs the warrants, which allow officers from local law enforcement agencies such as the sheriff's office to arrest and detain the specified individual.

El Paso County arrest warrants are issued when there is probable cause and evidence to believe someone has committed a crime or has failed to obey a court order. The stipulations that govern the issuance and execution of arrest warrants in El Paso County are contained in the Colorado Revised Statutes, Title 16, Parts 1-3.

To obtain an arrest warrant in El Paso County, the DA's office or the Sheriff's Department submit a written affidavit to the court detailing the alleged crime, suspect information, and supporting evidence. The magistrate reviews this information, and if deemed sufficient probable cause, the judge or magistrate signs the document, making it an active arrest warrant.

A valid arrest warrant in El Paso County typically includes the subject's full name or physical descriptors, the date, time, and place of issuance, the alleged criminal offense, and the issuing judge or magistrate's name and signature.

El Paso County Arrest Warrant Search

Individuals seeking to find active arrest warrants in El Paso County should contact the El Paso County Sheriff's Office:

Office of the Sheriff
27 East Vermijo Avenue
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
Phone: (719) 520-7100 / (719) 390-5555.

Alternatively, they may call the detention operations division of the sheriff's office for warrant information at (719) 452-5000, option 6. Local municipal police departments may also provide warrant information upon request. The full name of the person for whom the arrest warrant information is being requested must be provided.

Do El Paso County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. Arrest warrants do not have an expiration date in El Paso County. Once an arrest warrant is issued, it remains active until the person is apprehended. Alternatively, the warrant can be resolved if the individual voluntarily surrenders to law enforcement or the court recalls the warrant. Recalls occur when a motion is filed to quash the warrant because it is illegal or invalid, and the court agrees.