Jefferson County, Colorado Arrest Records

A Jefferson County arrest record is an official document generated when an individual is taken into legal custody by law enforcement for a suspected criminal charge. Arrest records are created by law enforcement agents at the time of arrest and booking and are maintained by law enforcement agencies. These records promote transparency in government and allow members of the public to scrutinize law enforcement activity.

Arrest records in Colorado are defined and governed as criminal records under the Colorado Criminal Justice Records Act. Also, Colorado Revised Statutes § 16-21-101 to § 16-21-112 governs the maintenance and release of criminal history records in Colorado. These records may be maintained by the county’s Sheriff’s office or local police departments, such as the Lakewood Police Department and the Arvada Police Department.

Are Arrest Records Public Information in Jefferson, Colorado?

Yes. Arrest records in Jefferson County are primarily governed by the Colorado Criminal Justice Records Act. Under this law, criminal justice agencies are required to make records of official actions available to the general public. This includes arrest records, booking information, and other related public documents. There are no requirements for individuals seeking arrest records to be citizens of Colorado or to reside in Jefferson County, as anyone may request arrest records. However, to request records from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO), you must submit a request through the JCSO’s online platform. Also, your request must include the name and date of birth of the person whose records you are seeking, along with your own signature and a valid photo ID. Requesters may also need to pay a small amount for printing copies or staff time. Furthermore, public access to some records, such as juvenile records, sealed or expunged arrest records, may be redacted or withheld.

What Do Public Jefferson County Arrest Records Contain?

Record seekers may find the following information in a Jefferson County arrest record.

• The full, legal name of the arrestee or other known aliases
• Arrestee’s date of birth
• Arrestee’s height, weight, eye color, and hair color
• Booking date and time
• Charges filed at the time of the arrest
• Arresting officer
• Arresting agency
• Bond or bail amount, if set
• Mugshot
• Case or docket number

However, some information may be withheld from the general public. Per C.R.S. § 24-72-305, a records custodian may deny access to specific portions of a record if the disclosure will compromise privacy rights or is against the public interest. They include

• Information about victims, witnesses, or confidential informants
• Personal contact details of peace officers
• Information that may compromise an ongoing investigation
• Juvenile records, which are protected under C.R.S. § 19-1-304
• Records sealed or expunged by court order per C.R.S. § 24-72-702 or § 24-72-703

Jefferson County,  Colorado Arrest Search

Individuals who wish to locate Jefferson County arrest records through state and federal resources may utilize several general pathways. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is the state's repository for Colorado criminal history records. This agency maintains fingerprint-based criminal history report information regarding arrests, charges, and convictions. While interested persons may request their own record from the CBI, conducting a background check on another person may require the person's consent. 

Furthermore, one may also look up individuals incarcerated in state prison facilities by using the Colorado Department of Corrections’ Offender Search online tool. To search, input the first and last name or the DOC number of the convicted individual. Record seekers may also request the departmental record of an individual by sending an email to doc_open_records@state.co.us.

Those seeking federal arrest records may request an Identity History Summary/Rap Sheet from the FBI online, via mail, or through an FBI-approved channeler. One may also obtain federal arrest records by using the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) maintained by the US Federal Courts. Registered users may look up federal criminal cases linked to arrests.

Jefferson County Inmate Locator

The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office provides the general public with arrest records through its Inmate Lookup online tool. To obtain information regarding an inmate, input the first name, last name, or inmate number of the arrested person. This tool is updated frequently and contains information such as the inmate's name, booking date, charges, and bail information. Record seekers may also request booking, release, and other detention facility records by submitting an online record request. For further inquiries, one may visit the county Sheriff's Office in person at

Jefferson County Sheriff's Office 

200 Jefferson County Parkway

Golden, CO 80401

Phone: (303) 980-7300

Active Warrant Search in Jefferson County

An arrest warrant in Jefferson County is a legal document issued by a judge, authorizing law enforcement to take a named individual into custody. This document is typically issued when the judge has probable cause to believe a person has committed a crime based on the evidence provided. A Jefferson County arrest warrant typically contains the following information

• The name or the description of the suspect 
• The alleged offense or criminal charge
• The date of issuance 
• The judge's signature 

Arrest warrants are public records under the Colorado Criminal Justice Records Act and may be accessed by the general public. Warrants in Jefferson County are issued by both the district and county courts. Although the Sheriff's Office manages and executes warrants, they do not provide the general public with any online warrant database. Requesters may look up an active arrest warrant by contacting the Sheriff's Office in person or via phone. Interested persons may also look up information on individuals wanted within the county through the Crimewatch Portal.

Agency / Resource	Purpose	Search Methods	Notes
Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office	Maintains and serves warrants	Phone or in person	No online database available
Jefferson County Court	Issues warrants and maintains court records	In person, online request, or via phone	The online database is only accessible via a record request
Colorado Bureau of Investigation	Maintains statewide criminal history records	Online records request	Fingerprint-based statewide records
Colorado Judicial Branch	Provides access to court case records statewide	Online	Official records available

How to Find Arrest Records for Free in Jefferson County

Interested persons who wish to look up arrest records at no cost may use the Jefferson County Inmate Lookup online tool. To search, simply input the first name, last name, or inmate number of the subject. People may also look up convicted inmates in state prison facilities through the Colorado Department of Corrections’ Offender Search online tool. To search, fill in the first and last name or the DOC number of the convicted individual. 

Generally, no ID or registration is required to search for records from these free sources, and results are strictly for informational use and may be incomplete. For certified documents or detailed historical records, you must visit the agency in person to submit a formal request.

Jefferson County Arrest Report

An arrest record is essentially distinct from an arrest report. An arrest record is a summary that shows important information regarding an individual’s detention, such as the dates, charges, and case outcomes, while an arrest report, sometimes called an incident report or a police report, is a comprehensive document that a law enforcement officer creates. It describes the events that led to the arrest, evidence collected, witness accounts, and other operational information. Arrest reports have more details than arrest records. One may request both the arrest record and the arrest report from the JCSO through the Records Request page.

How to Get an Arrest Record Expunged in Jefferson County

The state of Colorado uses the term “sealing” rather than “expungement” for adult criminal records. Record Sealing is the process of hiding criminal records from public view, while expungement refers to the physical destruction of records and is generally limited to juvenile records. Under C.R.S. § 24-72-704, arrest records with no filed charges are eligible for sealing. The CBI automatically seals the record within one year of the arrest date if no charges are filed for arrests that take place on or after January 1, 2022.

In cases where the charges are filed but the case ended without a conviction through acquittal or dismissal, the record may be sealed through a simplified process. However, there is a waiting period for conviction records before a petition can be filed, ranging from one year for minor offenses to several years for felonies. Therefore, to seal a record, check your eligibility and the time when the arrest occurred to see if your record has been automatically sealed, or if you will need to file a petition. Petitioners must get an official copy of their criminal history record from the CBI, attach it to the petition forms, and file it with the Jefferson County Court, along with a filing fee of $224.

How Do You Remove Jefferson County Arrest Records From the Internet?

Individuals who wish to remove their Jefferson County arrest records from the internet must first obtain a court-ordered record seal through the Colorado Judicial Branch. Once the court seals the file, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and local agencies will restrict public access to the arrest record, which may in turn compel private third-party websites to remove the data.