Colorado Springs Criminal Records Access

Colorado Springs sits in El Paso County. It is the second largest city in Colorado. Over 480,000 people call it home. The city spreads across the plains at the base of Pikes Peak. It covers 195 square miles. The El Paso County Sheriff's Office handles most criminal records for the area. They run the jail. They keep arrest records. They manage body camera footage. The Sheriff's Office serves both the city and the county. City police handle some local matters. Most records end up with the Sheriff.

Criminal records in Colorado Springs are public. State law says so. The Colorado Open Records Act applies here. So does the Colorado Criminal Justice Records Act. These laws let you see most files. Some data stays private. Juvenile records are sealed. Active investigations remain closed. But much is open. You can search inmate data online. You can request reports. You can view body camera video. This guide shows you how to find what you need.

El Paso County Sheriff's Office

The El Paso County Sheriff's Office is the main source for Colorado Springs criminal records. The office dates back to 1861. That was before Colorado became a state. It has grown with the region. Today it employs over 850 people. More than 540 are sworn officers. The rest are civilian staff. They patrol the county. They run the jail. They handle records requests. They serve the courts.

The main office sits at 27 East Vermijo Avenue. This is in downtown Colorado Springs. The jail is at 2739 East Las Vegas Street. Both locations are within city limits. The Sheriff's Office covers all of El Paso County. That includes Colorado Springs. It also covers the unincorporated areas. Small towns in the county rely on the Sheriff too. If you need records from anywhere in the county, start here.

The Sheriff's Office works closely with the Colorado Springs Police Department. City police handle calls within city limits. They make arrests. They write reports. But inmates go to the county jail. That is run by the Sheriff. So jail records are always with the Sheriff's Office. Arrest records may be with either agency. It depends on who made the arrest. If you cannot find a record with one office, try the other.

Colorado Springs Inmate Search

You can search for inmates online. The Sheriff's Office provides a free tool. It shows who is in the El Paso County jail. This covers all arrests in Colorado Springs. It also covers the rest of the county. The search is open to the public. You do not need an account. You do not need to pay. Just visit the website and enter a name.

The inmate search portal is easy to use. Type in a last name. Add a first name if you know it. Results show matching records. Each record has details. You can see the booking number. You can see the date of arrest. You can see the charges. Bond amounts are listed. Court dates appear too. Some records include photos. This helps you confirm you have the right person.

The online data has limits. It is not for official use. Law enforcement should not rely on it. Employers should not use it for screening. The information may not be current. People get released. Charges get dropped. Records change fast. Always call the booking desk to confirm. The number is 719-390-2151. Staff can tell you the current status. They can tell you if someone was released. They can answer questions the website cannot.

Requesting Criminal Records in Colorado Springs

Sometimes you need more than the inmate search provides. You may want a copy of a police report. You may need body camera footage. You may want court records. These require a formal request. The Sheriff's Office has a process for this. It is governed by Colorado law. The main statute is C.R.S. 24-72-301. This is the Colorado Criminal Justice Records Act. It says what is public. It says what is not.

The records request page explains how to ask for documents. You can request reports. You can request video. You can request other records. Not all requests are granted. Some files are closed. Active investigations stay private. Work product is protected. Personal information gets redacted. But many records are open. The office will review your request. They will tell you what they can release.

Fees apply to most requests. The Sheriff's Office charges for research time. The rate is $32 per hour. The first hour is free. This is state law. C.R.S. 24-72-205 sets this limit. No agency can charge more. Body camera video also costs $32 per hour. There is a one-hour minimum. Paper records have fees too. Reports up to ten pages cost $8 for review. Larger requests cost more. You pay when you pick up the records. The office takes cash. Bring exact change if you can.

Most requests finish in 72 hours. Some take up to ten days. Complex requests need more time. The office will notify you of delays. They will explain why. You can contact the records custodian with questions. Beth DeStefano handles records requests. Her phone is 719-520-7183. She can guide you through the process. She can tell you what to expect.

Colorado Springs Police Department

The Colorado Springs Police Department serves the city. They patrol the streets. They answer emergency calls. They investigate crimes. They make arrests. They write reports. These reports are public records. But they are not always with the Sheriff. You may need to contact CSPD directly. This is true for city arrests. It is true for incident reports. It is true for traffic citations.

CSPD has its own records unit. They handle requests for police reports. They follow the same laws as the Sheriff. CORA and CCJRA apply to them too. You can request records by mail. You can visit in person. Some records may be online. Call the department to learn more. Ask for the records division. They can tell you how to submit a request. They can tell you what fees apply.

For jail records, always go to the Sheriff. CSPD does not run the jail. When they arrest someone, that person goes to county custody. Booking information stays with the Sheriff. Release dates are with the Sheriff. Jail visitation rules are set by the Sheriff. Keep this in mind when you search. City police have some records. The Sheriff has others. Know which agency to ask.

Statewide Criminal Records Resources

Colorado offers tools beyond the local level. These cover the whole state. They can add to what you find in Colorado Springs. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation keeps the central criminal history database. This is the official state repository. It has records from all counties. It has records from all cities. It includes El Paso County. It includes Colorado Springs.

The CBI offers an online search. It is called the Internet Criminal History Check. It costs $6 per search. Results come back right away. You can search by name. You get convictions and arrests. Some records are excluded. Juvenile records do not appear. Sealed records are hidden. Active warrants may not show. But most adult criminal history is there. This is a good tool for statewide checks.

Other state resources exist. The Sex Offender Registry lists all registered offenders. You can search by name. You can search by location. It is free to use. It is open to the public. The Court Docket Search lets you look up cases. You can find criminal cases. You can find civil cases. You need to know the court. You need to know the case number or party name. These tools work together. Start local. Expand to state if needed.

Colorado Laws on Public Records

Two main laws govern criminal records in Colorado Springs. The first is CORA. That stands for Colorado Open Records Act. It is in C.R.S. 24-72-201 through 206. It says most government records are public. You can inspect them. You can copy them. Agencies must respond within three days. They can charge for copies. They can charge for research. But the fees are limited.

The second law is CCJRA. That stands for Colorado Criminal Justice Records Act. It is in C.R.S. 24-72-301 and beyond. It covers police and jail records. Most are public. But there are exceptions. Records of active investigations are closed. Records that would harm public safety are closed. Personal data like Social Security numbers is redacted. The Sheriff's Office and CSPD both follow this law. They release what they can. They withhold what they must.

C.R.S. 24-72-205 sets fee limits. No agency can charge more than $32 per hour for research. The first hour must be free. This protects requesters from high costs. It makes records accessible. If you think an agency charged too much, you can appeal. Contact the district attorney. Contact the attorney general. You can also go to court. Keep records of your request. Keep receipts for fees. This helps if you need to challenge a charge.

Types of Records Available

Colorado Springs offers many types of criminal records. Each serves a different purpose. Some are easy to get. Others take more work. Here is what you can find:

• Inmate booking records with charges and bond amounts
• Arrest reports from the Sheriff's Office or CSPD
• Body camera footage from law enforcement encounters
• Incident reports for crimes and accidents
• Court dockets showing case status and hearings
• Warrant information for active cases
• Jail visitation and phone call records

Not all records are available to everyone. Victims can get certain reports. Defendants can get their own files. The general public can get basic data. But some details are restricted. Medical information is private. Mental health records are sealed. Juvenile matters stay closed. The agency will tell you what you can see. They follow state law. They balance access with privacy rights.

El Paso County Criminal Records

Colorado Springs is the largest city in El Paso County. The county has over 740,000 residents. The Sheriff's Office serves them all. City police handle local matters. County records stay with the Sheriff. For more on county-wide resources, jail information, and records policies, visit the El Paso County page.

View El Paso County Criminal Records