El Paso County Criminal Records
What Is El Paso County Criminal Records
Criminal records in El Paso County 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 capturing a distinct phase of the criminal process.
Arrest records document the act of taking an individual into custody and are generated by law enforcement agencies such as the El Paso County Sheriff's Office or the Colorado Springs Police Department. An arrest record does not indicate guilt; it reflects only that probable cause existed for detention. Conviction records, by contrast, are produced by the courts and reflect a formal finding of guilt, whether through a guilty plea, no-contest plea, or jury verdict.
Criminal offenses in Colorado are classified as either felonies or misdemeanors. Felonies are the more serious category, ranging from Class 1 (the most severe) through Class 6, and include crimes such as homicide, aggravated assault, and drug trafficking. Misdemeanors are divided into Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3, covering offenses such as petty theft, simple assault, and certain traffic violations. Juvenile records are generally sealed by operation of law under Colorado Revised Statutes § 19-1-306 and are not accessible to the general public, distinguishing them from adult criminal records. Active warrants represent current judicial orders for an individual's arrest and are distinct from historical records, which document past proceedings that have been resolved.
The principal agencies responsible for maintaining El Paso County criminal records include:
- El Paso County Sheriff's Office — maintains arrest records, booking information, and jail rosters
- Colorado Springs Police Department — generates arrest and incident reports within city limits
- El Paso County District Court — holds case files, charging documents, pleas, trial records, sentencing orders, and probation/parole information
- Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) — maintains the statewide criminal history repository
Records held across these agencies collectively document charges filed, arraignments, pleas entered, trial proceedings, sentencing details, and any subsequent probation or parole conditions. The El Paso County District Court serves as the primary repository for court-based criminal case records within the county.
El Paso County Sheriff's Office 27 E. Vermijo Ave., Colorado Springs, CO 80903 (719) 520-7100 El Paso County Sheriff's Office
Colorado Springs Police Department 705 S. Nevada Ave., Colorado Springs, CO 80903 (719) 444-7000 Colorado Springs Police Department
Colorado Bureau of Investigation 690 Kipling St., Suite 3000, Denver, CO 80215 (303) 239-4300 Colorado Bureau of Investigation
Are Criminal Records Public In El Paso County
Criminal records in El Paso County are presumptively open to the public under Colorado's open records framework. The Colorado Criminal Justice Records Act (CCJRA), C.R.S. § 24-72-301 et seq., governs access to criminal justice records held by state and local agencies. Under this statute, criminal justice records are defined broadly to include all records, reports, notes, and data compilations in any form maintained by a criminal justice agency in the performance of its functions.
The CCJRA establishes that adult conviction records, court proceedings, charging documents, and sentencing information are generally available for public inspection. Members of the public may inspect these records during regular business hours without being required to state a reason for the request.
Certain categories of records are restricted or exempt from public disclosure, including:
- Ongoing criminal investigations — records that, if disclosed, would compromise an active investigation
- Sealed records — cases sealed by court order pursuant to C.R.S. § 24-72-308, including certain arrests that did not result in conviction
- Juvenile records — protected under C.R.S. § 19-1-306 and not subject to general public access
- Victim information — certain identifying details of crime victims may be withheld
- Intelligence and investigative files — internal law enforcement materials not yet part of a public proceeding
Court records maintained by the El Paso County District Court are additionally governed by the Colorado Rules for District Courts and the Colorado Open Records Act (CORA), C.R.S. § 24-72-201 et seq., which reinforces the public's right to inspect government-held documents.
How To Look Up Criminal Records In El Paso County in 2026
Members of the public seeking criminal records in El Paso County may access them through several official channels depending on the type of record needed. The following steps outline the current process for obtaining records from the primary maintaining agencies.
To obtain court case records from the El Paso County District Court:
- Visit the court clerk's office in person at 270 S. Tejon St., Colorado Springs, CO 80903, during public counter hours (Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)
- Provide the full legal name of the subject and, if known, the case number or approximate date of the proceeding
- Submit a written records request or use the court's online case search portal (see online section below)
- Pay any applicable copy fees, currently set at $0.25 per page for standard documents
To obtain arrest records or booking information from the El Paso County Sheriff's Office:
- Submit a Colorado Open Records Act request in writing to the Sheriff's Office Records Unit at 27 E. Vermijo Ave., Colorado Springs, CO 80903
- Include the subject's full name, date of birth, and the approximate date of arrest if known
- Allow up to three business days for a response under CORA's standard timeline
To obtain a statewide criminal history report through the Colorado Bureau of Investigation:
- Complete the CBI's name-based or fingerprint-based background check request form, available at cbi.colorado.gov
- Submit the form along with the applicable fee ($6.85 for a name-based search; $39.50 for a fingerprint-based search, subject to change)
- Fingerprint-based searches provide the most comprehensive and accurate results and are recommended for employment or licensing purposes
The 4th Judicial District Attorney's Office handles prosecutions in El Paso County and may be contacted regarding the status of active cases or charging decisions.
El Paso County District Court — Clerk of Court 270 S. Tejon St., Colorado Springs, CO 80903 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (719) 448-7700 El Paso County District Court
Colorado's 4th Judicial District Attorney's Office 105 E. Vermijo Ave., Colorado Springs, CO 80903 (719) 520-6000 4th Judicial District Attorney's Office
How To Find Criminal Records in El Paso County Online?
Several official online portals currently provide access to El Paso County criminal records without requiring an in-person visit. Each portal contains distinct categories of information, and users should consult multiple sources for a comprehensive search.
Colorado Integrated Criminal Justice Information System (CICJIS) / ICON Court Case Search The Colorado Judicial Branch operates the ICON/Eclipse public access portal, which allows members of the public to search court case records statewide, including all El Paso County District Court and County Court cases. Users may search by name, case number, or date of birth. The portal displays case type, filing date, charges, case status, and disposition information. No registration is required for basic name searches. Access is available through the Colorado Judicial Branch trial courts directory.
El Paso County Sheriff's Office Inmate Search The Sheriff's Office maintains a current jail roster on its official website, listing individuals currently held at the Criminal Justice Center. The roster includes booking date, charges, and bond information. This portal reflects current custody status only and does not constitute a comprehensive criminal history.
Colorado Bureau of Investigation — Online Background Checks The CBI provides a name-based criminal history search through its online portal at cbi.colorado.gov. This service returns records from the statewide repository and requires payment of the applicable fee. Results are typically returned within minutes for name-based searches.
Sex Offender Registry The Colorado Springs Police Department maintains a publicly accessible sex offender information page, which links to the El Paso County Sheriff's Office sex offender search and the Colorado Sex Offender Registry. Registration is not required to search the registry.
Records that are available online include current jail rosters, court case summaries, and registered sex offender information. Records available in person only include physical case files, sealed record petitions, and certified copies of court documents.
Can You Search El Paso County Criminal Records for Free?
Colorado law currently mandates that members of the public have the right to inspect public criminal justice records at no charge. Under C.R.S. § 24-72-203, custodians of public records must make records available for inspection during regular business hours without imposing a fee solely for the act of viewing. Fees may be assessed only for copies, certified documents, or staff research time exceeding a reasonable threshold.
The following resources are currently available at no cost:
- ICON/Eclipse Court Case Search — free online access to El Paso County court case summaries, charges, and dispositions via the Colorado Judicial Branch portal
- El Paso County Sheriff's Office Jail Roster — free online search of current inmates held at the Criminal Justice Center
- Colorado Sex Offender Registry — free public search available through the Colorado Springs Police Department's sex offender information page
- In-person record inspection — members of the public may inspect original records at the El Paso County District Court Clerk's Office at no charge during public counter hours
Fees apply when requesting printed copies (currently $0.25 per page at the District Court), certified copies (fees vary by document type), or CBI background check reports (name-based searches currently cost $6.85). Third-party commercial background check services are not official government sources and may charge additional fees for aggregated data.
What's Included in a El Paso County Criminal Record?
A complete El Paso County criminal record may contain information drawn from multiple agencies and proceedings. The specific data elements present in any given record depend on the nature and stage of the case.
Identifying Information
- Full legal name and known aliases
- Date of birth and place of birth
- Physical description (height, weight, eye color, hair color)
- Booking photograph (mugshot)
- Last known address
- State Identification Number (SID) assigned by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation
- FBI Number (if applicable, assigned for federal-level tracking)
Arrest Information
- Date, time, and location of arrest
- Arresting agency (e.g., El Paso County Sheriff's Office, Colorado Springs Police Department)
- Booking number and facility (e.g., El Paso County Criminal Justice Center)
- Charges as filed at the time of arrest
- Bail or bond amount set
- Jail facility and custody status
Court Case Information
- Case number and court of jurisdiction (District Court or County Court)
- Filing date and assigned judge
- Charges and applicable Colorado statutes, including felony or misdemeanor classification
- Plea entered (guilty, not guilty, no contest, Alford plea)
- Attorney of record (defense counsel and prosecuting attorney)
- Hearing dates and continuances
Disposition Information
- Verdict (guilty, not guilty, dismissed, acquitted)
- Conviction date
- Sentencing details, including type of sentence (incarceration, probation, deferred judgment), length, fines, restitution ordered, and special conditions
- Appeals filed and outcomes
- Probation or parole terms and supervising agency
Additional Record Elements
- Active or recalled arrest warrants
- Protective or restraining orders
- Sex offender registration status
- DUI/DWI adjudications and associated license actions
- Traffic violations adjudicated in county court
- Pending charges not yet resolved
How Long Does El Paso County Keep Criminal Records?
El Paso County criminal records are subject to retention schedules established under Colorado law and applicable court rules. The Colorado State Archives and the Colorado Judicial Branch prescribe minimum retention periods for various categories of criminal justice records.
Under the Colorado Judicial Branch Records Retention Schedule, the following general periods currently apply:
- Felony case files — retained permanently or for a minimum of 10 years after final disposition, depending on the offense class
- Misdemeanor case files — retained for a minimum of 7 years after final disposition
- Petty offense and traffic case files — retained for a minimum of 5 years after final disposition
- Juvenile delinquency records — retained until the subject reaches age 28, or for 10 years after the date of adjudication, whichever is later, subject to sealing provisions under C.R.S. § 19-1-306
- Arrest records without conviction — subject to sealing petitions under C.R.S. § 24-72-308; if not sealed, retained in accordance with agency-specific schedules
- Sex offender registration records — maintained for the duration of the registration requirement, which may be lifetime for certain offenses
Law enforcement agencies, including the El Paso County Sheriff's Office, maintain their own retention schedules for arrest logs, booking records, and incident reports, generally consistent with the Colorado State Archives' General Records Schedule for Local Governments. Certified copies of court records may be obtained from the El Paso County District Court Clerk's Office at 270 S. Tejon St., Colorado Springs, CO 80903, during regular business hours.