Adams County, Colorado Arrest & Criminal Case Guide
Search Adams County Jail Bookings, Warrants and Criminal Court Records
Find out whether someone is currently held at the Adams County Detention Facility, check a Sheriff warrant, request an arrest or case report, locate the related Colorado criminal court docket and obtain the official disposition when a booking alone does not answer what happened.
Adams County records are split between different systems. The Sheriff handles its inmate, warrant and law-enforcement records; the Colorado Judicial Branch handles County and District Court cases at the Adams County Justice Center; city police departments maintain reports they created; and CBI provides a separate Colorado-wide criminal-history search.
INMATE → WARRANT → DOCKET → DISPOSITION
ADAMS COUNTY LOOKUP
Current custody
Check
Warrant status
Verify
Court case
Match
Disposition
Confirm
ARREST RECORD ≠ CRIMINAL CONVICTION
County Sheriff
Gene Claps
Use the database that answers the question
One Arrest Can Produce Four Different Adams County Records
J
Jail / Inmate Record
Use the Sheriff database when your immediate question is whether someone is currently inside the Adams County Detention Facility.
S
Sheriff / Police Record
Use the agency that created the incident, arrest, calls-for-service, body-camera, photograph or investigative record.
C
Court Record
Use the Colorado Judicial Branch and Adams County Records Unit for filed charges, case events, disposition and sentencing documents.
CO
CBI Criminal History
Use CBI when you need a Colorado-wide name-based criminal-history search instead of one county’s jail records.
Arrest is not conviction: A person can be arrested and later have charges changed, dismissed, declined, resolved through another disposition or sealed from public access. Check the actual court record before describing an arrest as a conviction.
Start With the Result You Actually Need
See who is in jail now
Search the Sheriff inmate database using the first few letters of the person’s first or last name.
Check an Adams County warrant
Use the Sheriff’s separate warrant database and verify the information with the Warrants Section before taking legal action.
Find the criminal court case
Search the Colorado Judicial docket by party name or case number, then request the actual Adams County court record.
Get an arrest or incident report
Request the report from the Sheriff only when ACSO created it. City-police reports remain with the relevant municipal agency.
Get an older jail record
Use the Sheriff inmate-record request process for custody records that are not answered by the live inmate database.
Search statewide Colorado history
Use CBI when Adams County alone is too narrow for your purpose.
Adams County Arrest Records Quick Navigation
How to Search the Adams County Inmate Database
The Adams County Sheriff’s online inmate tool is the fastest official route for checking whether a person is currently inside the county Detention Facility.
Start broad.
The Sheriff recommends entering only the first few letters of the person’s first name, last name or both for the best results.
Do not over-filter the first search.
Names can contain middle names, compound surnames, hyphens or spelling variations that make an exact search fail.
Open every plausible match.
Compare identifying details before assuming the record belongs to the person you are researching.
Save the inmate or booking information.
Copy the identifying information you will need when calling the jail, requesting records or locating the court case.
Move to the court system for the case outcome.
A jail result answers the custody question—not whether the person was ultimately convicted.
Fast search tactic: If “Christopher Johnson” returns nothing, try “Chris,” “Chri,” “Johns,” or just the first few letters of one name before assuming there is no inmate record.
Verify the Person Before You Use an Arrest Result
Full name
Check aliases and suffixes.
Date of birth
Important for common names.
Booking data
Match the correct custody event.
Arrest agency
Sheriff vs city police.
Court case
Match date and charges.
Disposition
Verify the final result.
Common-name warning: Never identify someone solely because a name appears in an inmate, warrant or court search. Use DOB, case number, incident date and other identifiers before relying on the result.
Adams County Detention Facility Information
Detention Facility
150 N. 19th Ave.
Brighton, CO 80601
Facility access
The Sheriff lists the Detention Facility as a 24/7 location.
Current inmate vs historical record: Use the online database first when the question is current custody. For old booking, jail, intake, classification, medical or disciplinary records, use the Sheriff’s separate inmate-record request process.
Open official Adams County Inmate Services for current bond, visitation, mail, funds and related detention information.
Follow the Record From Arrest to Court Disposition
1
Arrest
Sheriff or municipal police create law-enforcement records based on the incident and arrest.
2
Booking
The person enters the Adams County detention process and may appear in the inmate database.
3
Charging
The criminal case proceeds in court if charges are filed.
4
Court Events
Advisement, bond, motions, plea, trial and other hearings become part of the case.
5
Disposition
Review the official court record for dismissal, plea, verdict, conviction, sentence or other result.
Do not stop at booking. If the question is “What happened to the case?” the jail page is the wrong endpoint. Move to the Adams County court record.
How to Check an Adams County Warrant
Adams County maintains a separate public warrant-search database. The Sheriff states that warrant data is updated daily by 7 a.m.
Search by first and last name.
Add DOB when available to reduce mistaken identity.
Read the Sheriff disclaimer.
No-result does not prove that no warrant exists. Another agency may have issued one or data may not yet be entered.
Verify before acting.
Call the Warrants Section when a legal decision depends on whether the warrant remains active.
Never attempt to detain or confront someone.
The Sheriff instructs people with information about a wanted person to contact Dispatch rather than act on their own.
Warrants Section
720-322-1325
Monday–Friday
8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Voluntary surrender location
Detention Facility
150 N. 19th Ave.
Brighton, CO 80601
Warrant search is not a legal clearance letter. The Sheriff explicitly warns that the public database is for reference and should not be treated as confirmation for legal action.
Which Agency Has the Arrest Report?
Adams County includes multiple cities and police jurisdictions. Being booked at the county Detention Facility does not mean the Adams County Sheriff created the original police report.
Adams County Sheriff
Use ACSO Records when Sheriff deputies handled the incident or created the report.
Municipal police
An arrest made by Brighton, Commerce City, Thornton, Northglenn, Federal Heights, Westminster or another city agency generally leaves the incident report with that police department.
County jail
The Detention Facility can still have the custody/booking record even when a different police department made the arrest.
Three-record method: When city police made the arrest, use the city for the police report, Adams County Sheriff for the jail record and Colorado Judicial for the state criminal court case.
How to Request an Adams County Sheriff Arrest or Case Report
The Sheriff records-request form allows requests for case reports, calls for service, Sheriff-only background checks, mugshots, case photographs and body-worn-camera video.
Use the case number when you have it.
This avoids a broader staff search and makes it easier to identify the correct report.
Add the person named in the report and DOB.
Include the incident address and date range when known.
Choose the specific record.
Request only what you need: case report, calls for service, background check, mugshot, photos or body-camera video.
Choose delivery method.
The form provides mail, pickup, email and fax options.
Pay the assessed fee when the request is complete.
The Sheriff may require a deposit when a request is expected to exceed the first free research hour.
- Case number
- Person named in report
- Date of birth
- Incident address
- Approximate incident date
- Your relationship to the report
- Specific record type
- Preferred delivery format
“I am requesting the releasable Adams County Sheriff records for case __________ involving __________, DOB __________, from approximately __________ at __________. I need the __________ record and prefer electronic delivery.”
Sheriff fee schedule revised December 31, 2025
Adams County Sheriff Record Fees in 2026
$5
Case search
Per case searched, plus applicable page charges.
25¢
Pages
Per standard page for applicable criminal-justice record copies.
$2
Mugshot
Published charge per mugshot.
$10
Background / custody letter
Sheriff-only arrest, warrant and custody information.
$41.37
Custom research
Per hour; first hour is free for the applicable custom request.
$20
Removable media
Per county-provided removable media when applicable.
| Record Type |
Current Published Fee |
What to Know |
| Case report / photos |
$5 per case searched + $0.25/page |
First copy is free to a person indexed as a victim of the report. |
| Calls for service |
$5 per address searched + $0.25/page |
Use a narrow address and date range where possible. |
| Mugshot |
$2 per mugshot |
Colorado imposes restrictions concerning use of booking photographs for paid-removal schemes. |
| Jail / medical record |
$5 per record searched + $0.25/page |
Some inmate records require authorization and additional privacy review. |
| Background / custody letter |
$10 |
Limited to arrests, warrants and in-custody information made or held by ACSO—not a statewide history. |
| Custom research |
$41.37/hour after first free hour |
A deposit may be required when staff expects the request to exceed one hour. |
| Audio / video / photo processing |
$41.37/hour if available |
The schedule describes a one-hour minimum plus media cost where applicable. |
Colorado solicitation restriction: The Sheriff’s form requires the requester to affirm that records of official actions and criminal-justice records will not be used for direct solicitation of business for pecuniary gain.
Check the live Sheriff Records Request page before ordering because costs and procedures can change.
How to Search Adams County Criminal Court Dockets
Colorado-specific limitation: The Colorado Judicial Branch provides an official docket search, but it does not provide complete trial-court case files and document images directly through the Judicial Branch website.
Select Adams County.
Narrow the location so names from other Colorado counties do not dominate the results.
Search by party name.
Choose Individual and enter first and last name. Use a case number when you already have it.
Review the hearing result.
The docket can show case number, party, hearing date, hearing type, courtroom and other schedule information.
Copy the case number.
That number is your strongest identifier when requesting the actual Adams County record.
Request the Register of Action or documents.
Use the Adams County court Records Unit when you need charges, sentence, disposition or copies from the actual case file.
Docket search is not a full background check. It is most useful for connecting a person to a scheduled or identifiable state-court case. For statewide Colorado criminal history, CBI is the better route.
Request Official Criminal Court Records From Adams County
Adams County Justice Center
1100 Judicial Center Dr.
Brighton, CO 80601
1. Free docket lookup
Use the Judicial Branch docket search to identify the case number and hearing.
2. Record request
Request the Register of Action, complaint/information, disposition/sentence order or another specific document.
3. Clerk review
Court staff determines public access and any required redaction under court-access rules.
4. Copy / certification
Pay applicable search, copy or certification fees when required.
Response target: The Judicial Branch’s online record-request form states that, absent extenuating circumstances, a requested response will be provided within three business days.
Open the official Colorado Judicial Record/Document Request Form.
Colorado Court Record Copy and Search Fees
| Court Service |
Published Amount |
When It Applies |
| Name search |
Up to $5 |
May apply to a court-record name search or verification of whether a court record exists. |
| Filed document copy |
$0.25 per page |
Copies of filed papers from the official court record. |
| Certified / exemplified copy |
$20 per document |
When official certification rather than an ordinary copy is required. |
| Research / redaction |
$30 per hour after first hour |
When staff research or redaction is required to fulfill the request. |
| Off-site retrieval |
Actual retrieval cost |
May apply to a case file stored off-site. |
Party-copy cap: Colorado’s fee directive generally allows a maximum $15 copy charge for parties to their own case and their attorneys regardless of the number of pages; non-parties do not receive that general maximum.
Bond, Advisement and In-Custody Court Timing
Booking information and bond orders can change quickly after arrest. Use the Detention Facility for current custody/bond questions and the court docket for the judicial hearing.
Current Sunday hearings
The Colorado Judicial Branch currently lists Adams County weekend in-custody bond hearings on Sundays at 10:30 a.m.
Court docket
Verify the actual hearing, courtroom or virtual-access information through the Judicial Branch because schedules can change.
Do not calculate release from an old screenshot. Bond can be modified, additional holds may exist and the person may have another jurisdiction’s warrant or case affecting release.
Colorado Statewide Criminal History: When Adams County Is Too Narrow
The Colorado Bureau of Investigation operates the Internet Criminal History Check system for official Colorado name-based criminal-history searches.
Online ICHC fee
$6 per search, including searches with no result.
Identification needed
Enter the exact spelling of the person’s name and the correct date of birth for the best chance of retrieving the correct record.
Colorado only
ICHC is not an FBI or nationwide criminal-history report.
Choose a one-time search for occasional use.
CBI states that an account is not required for a single search.
Enter exact name and DOB.
Incorrect spelling or birth date can prevent the system from finding a record.
Pay the $6 search fee.
The fee is non-refundable regardless of the search outcome.
Review possible matches carefully.
If more than one record matches, CBI charges another $6 for each additional matching record selected for viewing.
What ICHC does not show: CBI says warrants, sealed records and juvenile records are not publicly available through this system. Arrests not supported by fingerprints are also not included.
Need a mailed/notarized response? CBI’s current public request form lists $13 per name for the manual criminal-history request and states that replies are mailed in approximately three to five business days; notarization can add processing time.
Criminal Case Result Decoder
| Record Term |
Plain-English Meaning |
What to Verify |
| Pending |
The case has not reached a final outcome. |
Upcoming hearings, active counts and current bond conditions. |
| Dismissed |
A charge or case was dismissed rather than resulting in conviction on that count. |
Whether every count was dismissed and whether sealing occurred. |
| Acquitted / not guilty |
The defendant was not found guilty on the relevant charge. |
Whether other charges or cases remain. |
| Guilty plea |
The defendant entered a plea resulting in the applicable conviction/disposition. |
Exact offense, sentence and later modifications. |
| Convicted |
A conviction was entered. |
Offense level, sentence, supervision and later sealing status. |
| Deferred judgment / diversion |
A structured resolution may allow dismissal after successful completion depending on the case. |
Completion, dismissal and whether the resulting record became eligible for sealing. |
| Sealed |
The record is no longer publicly accessible through the normal process. |
The type of sealing and whether the case owner can confirm status through the Judicial Branch’s sealed-case tools. |
Terminology matters: “Arrested,” “charged,” “in custody,” “convicted,” “case closed,” “dismissed” and “sealed” are different statuses. Do not substitute one for another.
Colorado Record Sealing: Arrests, Non-Convictions and Convictions
Colorado uses several different sealing pathways. The correct route depends on whether charges were never filed, a filed case ended without conviction, a conviction exists or the case qualifies for automatic sealing.
1
No charges filed
Colorado provides JDF 417 and related forms for eligible arrest records when no criminal charges were filed.
2
Non-conviction case
Eligible acquittals, complete dismissals, diversion completions and dismissed deferred judgments may qualify for automatic or simplified sealing.
3
Conviction record
Eligibility and waiting periods depend on the offense classification, criminal history and statutory exclusions.
4
Confirm the result
A sealed record is no longer publicly accessible, but it is not destroyed and remains available to authorized criminal-justice entities.
No-charge arrest petition: Current Colorado guidance says an eligible petition may be filed in the county where the arrest occurred. When no criminal court case exists, the procedure opens a new District Court civil case; current Judicial Branch guidance lists a $224 filing fee, with fee-waiver forms available for qualifying filers.
Existing non-conviction case: Colorado guidance states there is no filing fee for the simplified motion-to-seal procedure filed into the existing eligible criminal case.
Do not assume eligibility from a short online docket. Some offenses are excluded or use special procedures. Review the current Judicial Branch guide or obtain legal advice before filing.
Adams County Search Scenarios
Family member arrested today
Check the Sheriff inmate database first, then call the Detention Facility for current bond or custody questions.
Person arrested months ago
Request the old Sheriff/city record and use the court system to identify the final disposition.
Thornton arrest
The city police report may remain with Thornton Police even if the person was booked at Adams County Detention.
Commerce City arrest
Separate the city incident report from the county jail record and the Colorado state-court case.
No current inmate result
The person may have been released, transferred, booked elsewhere or never entered Adams County custody.
Warrant but no inmate
An active warrant does not require that the person already be in jail. Use the separate warrant-search route.
Need proof of court outcome
Request the disposition/sentence order or Register of Action rather than printing an inmate-search page.
Need Colorado-wide history
Use CBI instead of manually searching each Sheriff or county court.
Dismissed case still appears somewhere
Determine whether the record was sealed automatically or whether a sealing motion/petition is still required.
Adams County Jail, Sheriff and Court Contacts
Detention Facility
150 N. 19th Ave.
Brighton, CO 80601
303-654-1850
Sheriff Headquarters
4430 S. Adams County Pkwy.
1st Floor, Suite W5400
Brighton, CO 80601
Adams County Justice Center
1100 Judicial Center Dr.
Brighton, CO 80601
303-659-1161
Court building hours
Monday–Friday
7:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Clerk windows
Monday–Friday
7:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Clerk phone hours
Monday–Friday
8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Monthly closure: The Adams County Clerk’s Office currently states that it closes to the public on the fourth Wednesday of each month from noon to 1 p.m.
Adams County Arrest Search Problems and Fixes
| Problem |
What to Do |
Best Source |
| Exact inmate name returns nothing |
Search only the first few letters of the first or last name. |
Sheriff Inmate Search |
| Person was arrested but is no longer listed |
Request historical jail/case records and search the court docket. |
Sheriff Records + Court |
| No warrant result |
Do not treat the result as proof that no warrant exists; call the Warrants Section when necessary. |
Sheriff Warrants |
| Arrest report not at Sheriff |
Identify whether a municipal police department created the report. |
Arresting Agency |
| Docket result has no documents |
Submit an official court record request using the case number. |
Adams Court Records Unit |
| Need final conviction proof |
Request the disposition/sentence order or certified court record. |
Adams Court Records Unit |
| Need all Colorado arrests |
Use CBI rather than an Adams County-only custody letter. |
CBI ICHC |
| CBI returns nothing but local record exists |
Check spelling/DOB and remember arrests not supported by fingerprints are not included in ICHC. |
CBI + Local Agency |
| Case disappeared from public search |
It may be sealed, restricted or unavailable remotely. Do not infer the reason without confirmation. |
Court Records Unit |
| Need older body-camera footage |
Submit a narrow records request immediately because media retention and availability vary. |
Agency Records |
“I am trying to locate the correct Adams County record for __________, DOB __________, related to an incident or arrest around __________. I have case/booking number __________. I need the __________ record and want to confirm whether your agency maintains it.”
Official Adams County and Colorado Arrest-Record Resources
Adams County Inmate Search
Check whether someone is currently inside the county Detention Facility.
Adams County Warrant Search
Search Sheriff-held warrants and review the agency’s current warrant disclaimer.
Sheriff Records Request
Request case reports, calls for service, mugshots, photographs, body-camera records and other releasable records.
Inmate Records Request
Request official custody, intake, classification, disciplinary or authorized inmate records.
Colorado Judicial Dockets
Search Adams County hearings by party or case information.
Adams County Courts
Court contacts, records, docket links, self-help and courthouse information.
Court Record Request
Request a Register of Action, disposition/sentence order or other official court document.
CBI Criminal History
Search official Colorado name-based criminal-history records.
Seal My Case
Find Colorado forms for arrests, non-convictions, convictions and municipal records.
Adams County Colorado Arrest Records FAQs
1. How do I search Adams County Colorado arrest records?
Start with the Adams County Sheriff Inmate Search when you are checking current custody. For the criminal case outcome, search the Colorado Judicial docket and request the official Adams County court record. For a statewide Colorado history, use CBI.
2. How do I find out if someone is currently in the Adams County Jail?
Use the Sheriff’s online Inmate Search. The Sheriff recommends entering only the first few letters of the person’s first or last name for the best search results. The Adams County Detention Facility is at 150 N. 19th Avenue in Brighton.
3. How do I search Adams County warrants?
Use the Adams County Sheriff Warrant Search. The Sheriff states that records are updated daily by 7 a.m., but a no-result search does not guarantee that no warrant exists. The Warrants Section can be reached at 720-322-1325.
4. Does an Adams County arrest record mean the person was convicted?
No. An arrest or jail booking documents custody or an alleged offense at that stage. The criminal court record must be checked for the actual charges, dismissal, plea, conviction, sentence or other final disposition.
5. How do I get an Adams County Sheriff arrest report?
Use the Sheriff Records Request page and provide the case number, person named in the report, DOB, incident address and approximate date when available. The current standard case-search fee is $5 plus applicable copy charges.
6. How much does an Adams County Sheriff background or custody letter cost?
The Sheriff’s current fee schedule lists $10 for a Background and Custody Letter. It consists only of arrests, warrants and in-custody information made or maintained by the Adams County Sheriff’s Office and is not a statewide Colorado criminal-history report.
7. How do I search Adams County criminal court cases?
Use the Colorado Judicial Branch Docket Search and select Adams County. Search by party or case number. The official docket helps identify the case, but full trial-court case documents must be requested from the court rather than viewed directly on the Judicial Branch website.
8. How do I get a certified Adams County criminal court record?
Contact the Adams County court Records Unit at 303-654-3239 or submit the Colorado Judicial Record/Document Request Form. Current statewide court fees list certified or exemplified copies at $20 per document plus applicable copy charges.
9. How much is a Colorado CBI criminal-history search?
CBI’s Internet Criminal History Check currently charges $6 for each search regardless of whether a record is found. If several records match and you choose additional records to view, each additional selected record carries another $6 charge.
10. Can an Adams County arrest or criminal case be sealed?
Some Colorado arrests, non-convictions and convictions qualify for automatic sealing or a court sealing process, while other offenses are excluded or subject to waiting periods. Use the Colorado Judicial Branch Seal My Case guide to select the procedure that matches the actual disposition.
Public-Record Accuracy and Use Notice
County-CAD.org is an independent informational guide. It is not affiliated with the Adams County Sheriff’s Office, Adams County Detention Facility, Colorado Judicial Branch, 17th Judicial District, Adams County District Attorney, Colorado Bureau of Investigation or any municipal police department.
A jail booking, arrest record or warrant listing should not be presented as proof of guilt. Verify identity and use the official court disposition before describing the outcome of a criminal charge. Records may be restricted, redacted, sealed, unavailable online or maintained by another law-enforcement agency.
Colorado law restricts use of records of official actions and criminal-justice records for direct solicitation of business for pecuniary gain. Current public-record fees, court schedules, custody status, warrant data and sealing procedures can change, so time-sensitive actions should be confirmed with the responsible official agency.
Editorial verification date: August 28, 2026.
Slug: adams-county-arrest-records
