Colorado Public Records

In Colorado, background checks are governed by the Colorado Open Records Act (CORA) (Colorado Revised Statutes § 24-72-201 through § 24-72-309). They may include criminal history, sex offender status, court filings, arrest records, and vital statistics. Agencies must respond within 3 business days. The law is administered by Colorado Secretary of State, Open Records Team; local government disputes go to district courts.

Police reports in Colorado are public records under the Colorado Open Records Act (CORA). Submit your request to the agency that generated the report. Who may request: Any person - no residency requirement. Response deadline: 3 business days. If access is denied, you may appeal to district or circuit court. Under the Colorado Open Records Act (C.R.S. § 24-72-201), most incident and accident reports become public after the investigation is closed. Requests can be submitted to the records division of the reporting agency. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) handles reports generated by state troopers; local police departments and county sheriff offices handle their own reports. Allow 5-10 business days for standard requests; fees typically range from $5-$25 per report.

Vital records (birth, death, marriage, divorce) in Colorado are maintained by the state Department of Health or Vital Statistics. Standard fees: First hour of research is free; after that, agencies charge $41.37/hour (2025 ra. Certified copies carry separate fee schedules. Fee waivers may be available for journalists, nonprofits, and public-interest requesters - always ask.

The Colorado Department of Education provides school district performance data for all public schools in the state. The data includes information on student achievement, graduation rates, teacher quality, and school finance. The data can be accessed through the Colorado School Performance Framework website. Colorado Department of Education (www.cde.state.co.us) publishes annual school and district performance reports covering graduation rates, standardized test scores, chronic absenteeism, and college/career readiness. Reports are available on the agency's official website and are updated each fall following the close of the academic year. Parents and researchers can compare district performance across Colorado using the state's school accountability portal.

Colorado crime statistics are compiled by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and published in the annual Crime in Colorado report at cbi.colorado.gov. FBI UCR data also covers Colorado. In 2022, Colorado reported a violent crime rate of approximately 400 per 100,000 residents, with property crime elevated in metro areas. The Colorado Division of Criminal Justice publishes detailed statistical summaries at cdps.colorado.gov.

If arrested in Colorado, you would be taken to the local county jail. Court appearances are scheduled in the county where the arrest occurred. Under the Colorado Open Records Act (CORA), arrest records and booking information are generally public. Oversight: Colorado Secretary of State, Open Records Team; local government disputes go to district courts. Appeals go to district or circuit court.

Yes. Colorado state and public libraries provide access to public records databases. The Colorado Open Records Act (CORA) (Colorado Revised Statutes § 24-72-201 through § 24-72-309) guarantees public access to government documents. Many libraries offer free access to LexisNexis, court records portals, and vital record indexes. The Colorado State Library, 201 E provides free public access to government records, genealogy databases (Ancestry.com, HeritageQuest), legal research tools (LexisNexis, Westlaw), and historical newspaper archives. Under the Colorado Open Records Act (C.R.S. § 24-72-201), library patrons can request government documents through the library's inter-agency loan and records request services at no charge. Many local public libraries throughout Colorado also offer digital access to court records and vital statistics indexes.

The Colorado State Library is located in Denver, Colorado. The library maintains public access to government records, historical archives, genealogy databases, and legal research tools. Under the Colorado Open Records Act (C.R.S. § 24-72-201), Colorado residents may request government documents through the state library's reference services. Collections include census records, land patents, vital statistics indexes, and digitized newspapers. Most state library services are free to Colorado residents. Contact the library by phone or visit the official CO state library website for research guides and online catalog access.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) provides fingerprinting services at its regional offices throughout the state. To find the nearest FDLE office, visit the FDLE website and use the Office Locator tool. Residents can also be fingerprinted at local sheriff offices, police departments, and approved private LiveScan vendors throughout Colorado. Prints are submitted electronically to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and to the FBI for national background checks. Common purposes include employment, professional licensing, adoption, volunteer work, and immigration. Standard fee: $5-$25 for ink cards; $20-$50 for electronic LiveScan. Allow 3-7 business days for results to be returned to the requesting agency.