How to Search Jefferson County Criminal Records
A complete search uses three official channels. Start with the Colorado Judicial Branch docket portal for court case info. Move to the Sheriff's NextRequest portal for arrest and booking records. Finish with CBI's Internet Criminal History Check System for a statewide history. Each takes a different identifier and produces a different output.
Before you start, gather the person's full name, a rough date of birth if you have it, and any case or booking number on hand. The court docket search uses name and case-number filters. The Sheriff's NextRequest portal asks for the type of record and the date range. CBI ICHC takes a name and identifier and runs a statewide check for a fee.
The Sheriff's Records & Reports page is the main hub for sheriff-side criminal records. It links to the NextRequest portal, the fee schedule, and the kinds of records the Sheriff holds.
- Open the Colorado Judicial Branch docket portal filtered to Jefferson County.
- Set Court Type to County for misdemeanor cases, District for felony cases, or Both.
- Filter by case class CR (felony), M (misdemeanor), T (criminal traffic), or party name.
- Note the case number, charges, and disposition shown.
- Switch to the Sheriff NextRequest portal for booking records or incident reports.
- For a statewide adult criminal history, use CBI's ICHC site and pay the state fee.
- For documents, send a Record/Document Request to the Clerk of Court.
Court Criminal Cases vs CBI Statewide History
Two very different sources cover Jefferson County criminal records. A court case file is the record of one prosecution. A CBI criminal history is the statewide arrest and conviction history kept by the state for fingerprint-based identification. They do not contain the same data.
| Item | Court Criminal Case | CBI Criminal History |
|---|---|---|
| Custodian | Clerk of Court at Jefferson Combined Court | Colorado Bureau of Investigation |
| Scope | One prosecution in Jefferson County | Statewide arrests, prosecutions, and dispositions |
| How to access | Docket search; record/document request form | ICHC online at cbirecordscheck.com |
| Identifier used | Case number, party name, year | Name and identifiers; fingerprint version available |
| Cost | $0.25/page; $20 certified; $5 name search | State fee published by CBI |
For a full picture of someone's record across Colorado, the CBI check is the right tool. For details on one Jefferson County case, the court file is the right tool. The sheriff sits in between, with the arrest report, booking record, and release record for cases that ran through the Jefferson County Detention Facility.
The CBI site at cbirecordscheck.com handles the public-facing ICHC orders for statewide criminal history checks. The Colorado court record/document request form points users here for arrest histories the court does not produce.
Jefferson County Sheriff Arrest and Booking Records
The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office runs the Detention Facility at 200 Jefferson County Parkway in Golden. Sheriff Reggie Marinelli was sworn in on January 10, 2023. Sheriff records are now ordered through the NextRequest portal. The portal lets users submit and track requests around the clock. The Records Unit at 303-271-5542 or records@jeffco.us also handles questions about fees and turnaround.
The Sheriff's NextRequest portal handles requests for incident reports, booking records, release records, body-worn camera footage, and the Columbine investigative records released through the agency. Court case files and statewide criminal histories do not run through this portal.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Processing fee per request | $3 |
| Research / retrieval / redaction | First hour free, then $40 per hour |
| Large or BWC request deposit | $40 initial |
| Hardcopy per page | $0.25 |
| CD or DVD | $10 |
| Flash drive up to 32GB | $10 |
| Postal mail | $3 |
Sheriff records the office does not hold include court case files (go to the Clerk of Court), statewide criminal histories (go to CBI), sealed or expunged records, active investigation materials, juvenile records, and dispatch records from March 2018 forward (go to JEFFCOM 911).
Current Inmate Lookup
The Sheriff publishes a current-custody inmate lookup at jeffcosheriffco.gov/jail/inmate-lookup. The page accepts last name, first name, or booking date. It shows only people currently held at the Jefferson County Detention Facility. It excludes juveniles under 18. It updates every 15 minutes. To verify by phone, call 303-271-5444.
The lookup does not return former-inmate data. For release records, file a request through NextRequest. Full inmate roster details, bond rules, and release info live on the Jefferson County inmate records page. For active warrants, see the warrant records page.
Types of Criminal Court Records in Jefferson County
The Colorado Judicial Branch docket dropdown breaks criminal cases into a small set of case classes. Each one has its own court level and document set.
- CR - Felony filed in District Court. Cases like aggravated assault, robbery, theft over the felony threshold, and felony DUI.
- M - Misdemeanor filed in County Court. Cases like trespass, simple assault, and most DUI/DWAI.
- T - Traffic infractions and traffic misdemeanors filed in County Court.
- R - Petty and minor offenses heard in County Court.
- JD / JV - Juvenile matters restricted under the Children's Code at Title 19.
The court record/document request form lists what kinds of documents the Clerk pulls under Criminal Matters: Complaint/Information, Disposition/Sentence Order, Protection Order, and Ticket.
Charges vs Convictions vs Dispositions
A charge is the start of a case. A conviction is one possible end. The two are not the same, and many cases end without a conviction. The table lays it out.
| Stage | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Arrest | Officer takes a person into custody, often on probable cause. |
| Charge | The DA files a formal allegation that lists statute, elements, and counts. |
| Plea | The defendant says guilty, not guilty, or no contest. |
| Disposition | Final court outcome: guilty, not guilty, dismissed, deferred judgment, deferred sentence. |
| Conviction | A guilty plea or jury verdict that the court enters as a final judgment. |
A deferred judgment is a stay arrangement. The defendant pleads guilty, the court holds the conviction in reserve, and the case is dismissed at the end if the defendant follows the terms. A deferred sentence works the same way at the sentencing stage. Both look very different on a criminal record than an entered conviction.
Sealed vs Expunged in Colorado
Colorado mostly uses sealing under C.R.S. § 24-72-706. Expungement applies in narrower cases (juvenile records and certain underage offenses). The two terms get used loosely in everyday speech, but they have specific meanings under state law.
| Mechanism | How It Works |
|---|---|
| Sealing (C.R.S. § 24-72-706) | Hides eligible adult criminal records from public view after a waiting period. Records still exist in court and law-enforcement databases. |
| Expungement | Used for juvenile records under Title 19 and certain underage offenses; closes the record from public access under stricter terms. |
| Not eligible for sealing | DUI, DWAI, DUID convictions; certain offenses against children; class 1 misdemeanor traffic. |
| Waiting periods | One year for a petty offense, two years for most misdemeanors, three years for a class 1 misdemeanor; longer for some felonies. |
The Colorado General Assembly publishes a memorandum on the sealing and expungement process that covers the petition steps and statute references. The Clerk of Court does not seal records on request. A motion has to be filed in the underlying case.
Warrants and Failure to Appear
A warrant is the most common reason a person turns up in custody at the Jefferson County jail. Bench warrants follow missed court dates. Arrest warrants follow charges filed by the DA after investigation. The Sheriff books the person into the Detention Facility at 200 Jefferson County Parkway. The case then moves through arraignment, advisement, bond hearings, and trial setting at Jefferson Combined Court.
Active-warrant data is not posted as a public list by the Jefferson County Sheriff. Warrant-related hearings do appear on the court docket as "Appearance on Arrest Warrant." For the full process and bond rules, see the warrant records page. Bond at the jail is allowed 24/7 under C.R.S. § 16-4-102.
Colorado Statewide Criminal History
The Colorado Bureau of Investigation runs the Internet Criminal History Check System (ICHC). It is the state-level public criminal history check. The Jefferson County court record/document request form expressly points users here for arrest-history checks the court does not produce.
The CBI ICHC information page explains what the check covers, what it does not cover, and the state fee. Public ICHC orders return name-based results. Fingerprint-based checks are more accurate but use a separate process for employment, licensing, and adoption.
District Attorney and Public Defender Resources
The First Judicial District Attorney prosecutes felony and misdemeanor cases in Jefferson and Gilpin Counties. DA Alexis King's office is at 500 Jefferson County Parkway in Golden. Phone 303-271-6800. The office runs a diversion program for first-time offenders and a victim services unit.
First Judicial District Attorney
500 Jefferson County Parkway
Golden, CO 80401
303-271-6800
Jefferson County Public Defender
560 Golden Ridge Road
Golden, CO 80401
Through the courthouse
The Public Defender represents eligible criminal defendants who cannot afford private counsel. Adam Danneman leads the office. Eligibility is set by income guidelines tied to the federal poverty level. Apply through the court advisement process at the first appearance.
Note: The Public Defender does not handle civil cases, divorce, custody, or probate. Use Colorado Legal Services or a private attorney for those matters.
Fees and Routing for Jefferson County Criminal Records
Court records and sheriff records have separate fee schedules. The Clerk of Court charges $0.25 a page (party cap $15) and $20 per certified document. The Sheriff charges $3 per request, the first hour of research free and then $40 per hour, plus media fees. CBI sets its own ICHC fee on its order page.
Match the record to the right office. The wrong office returns the request without a charge. Court records belong with the Clerk of Court at Jefferson Combined Court. Sheriff records belong with NextRequest. Statewide criminal histories belong with CBI ICHC.