Denver Criminal Court Records Lookup Guide

Denver criminal court records are filed at Denver County Court and Denver District Court. The Denver County Court is separate from the state court system. It handles its own criminal cases. Denver District Court is part of the Colorado state courts. Criminal cases in Denver go to these county courts. They do not go to municipal courts.

Municipal courts in Denver do not handle criminal cases. They only hear city ordinance violations. These include minor code infractions. Criminal charges go to county courts. This is true for all of Colorado. Understanding this helps you find the right records.

Where Denver Criminal Cases Are Filed

Denver criminal cases are filed at Denver County Court or Denver District Court. The County Court handles misdemeanors and lesser offenses. The District Court hears felony cases. Both courts keep criminal court records for Denver. You must know which court handled the case to find records.

Denver County Court sits at 520 West Colfax Avenue. The Criminal Division is in Room 160. This court handles most criminal cases in Denver. Records here date back to October 1, 1975. The court is separate from the state system. It has its own rules and procedures.

Denver District Court is at the same building. It handles felony criminal cases. These include serious crimes under Colorado law. The court is part of the state judicial system. Records here also go back many years. Both courts serve Denver residents.

Note: Denver County Court runs on its own system separate from state courts in Colorado.

Denver Municipal Court Does Not Handle Criminal Cases

Denver has municipal courts. These courts do not handle criminal cases. They only hear city ordinance violations. Examples include noise complaints and minor code infractions. These are civil matters under city law. They are not criminal cases.

Criminal cases in Denver go to county courts. This follows Colorado state law. Municipal courts cannot hear criminal charges. Only county courts have this power. This is important when searching for records. Do not look at municipal courts for criminal cases.

The Denver Municipal Court is at 1437 Bannock Street. This court handles traffic tickets and city code violations. It does not keep criminal court records. For criminal matters, go to Denver County Court or District Court instead. This distinction matters for your search.

How to Search Denver Criminal Court Records

You can search Denver criminal court records online or in person. The court offers a public portal for online access. Visit public.denvercountycourt.org to search. You can look up cases by name or number. Basic case information is free.

In-person visits let you see full files. You can get copies the same day. Go to Room 160 at the courthouse. Bring valid photo ID. Staff can help you find records. Copies cost $0.25 per page. Certified copies cost an extra $20. This is useful for legal matters.

For large data requests, email coradatarequests@denvercountycourt.org. This works best for bulk searches. The court can send records in electronic format. This saves time and copy fees. Response times vary based on request size.

To search Denver criminal court records, you need:

• Full name of the defendant
• Case number if known
• Year the case was filed
• Court type (County or District)

Denver Criminal Court Records Coverage

Denver criminal court records cover different time periods. Criminal records at Denver County Court date back to October 1, 1975. This includes statutory misdemeanors and DUI cases. Traffic records start from January 1, 1999. Civil records go back to January 1, 1986.

Denver District Court records also go back to 1975. These cover felony criminal cases. CoCourts is the statewide system. It includes Denver County data. You can search multiple counties at once. This helps if you are unsure where a case was filed.

Records before 1975 may be in paper files. The court stores older records off-site. You may need to file a formal request. Staff can tell you if a record exists. They can help locate very old cases. Plan extra time for historical searches.

Colorado Laws Governing Denver Criminal Court Records

Colorado law controls access to criminal court records. The Colorado Criminal Justice Records Act governs this. It declares that records of official actions are public. Anyone can view them. No reason is required for your request.

Title 16 of the Colorado Revised Statutes covers criminal procedure. Title 18 defines crimes and offenses. These laws tell courts how to keep records. Denver County Court follows these same state laws. This ensures consistency across Colorado.

Some records remain confidential. Juvenile records have special protection. They fall under C.R.S. Title 19. Most juvenile matters are not public. Sealed records cannot be viewed. These require a court order to access. Adult criminal records are generally open.

Note: The Colorado Judicial Branch offers a free statewide docket search at coloradojudicial.gov.

Online Resources for Denver Criminal Court Records

Several online tools help you find Denver criminal court records. The Colorado Judicial Branch website is the main portal. It provides forms and court rules. You can find local court information there. Visit coloradojudicial.gov for statewide resources.

CoCourts.com is a paid service for detailed records. It updates in real time. Changes appear within an hour. This makes it useful for current cases. The service covers both District and County Court. Denver records are included in this system.

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation offers criminal history checks. These differ from court records. CBI records show arrests and convictions statewide. They cost $6 per search. Visit cbirecordscheck.com to run a check. This is useful for background screening.

Denver County Criminal Court Records

Denver is both a city and a county in Colorado. This makes it unique. The Denver County Court handles criminal cases for the entire county. All criminal court records for Denver are in one place. This differs from other Colorado cities.

For more on the Denver County court system, visit the county page. It has full fee lists and related records. You can find additional resources there. The county page explains the court structure in detail.

View Denver County Criminal Court Records

Counties Near Denver

Denver is surrounded by several counties. Cases may involve multiple jurisdictions. Each county keeps its own criminal court records. You may need to search more than one.