Garfield County Criminal Records
What Is Garfield County Criminal Records
Criminal records in Garfield County, Colorado, 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 and serve as the authoritative source for background checks, legal proceedings, and public safety purposes.
Arrest records document the act of being taken into custody by law enforcement and do not indicate guilt or conviction. Conviction records, by contrast, reflect a formal finding of guilt entered by a court of law. Under Colorado law, both categories may appear in a criminal history report, though they carry distinct legal weight.
Criminal offenses in Garfield County are classified as follows:
- Felonies — serious offenses (Classes 1–6) carrying potential state prison sentences exceeding one year
- Misdemeanors — lesser offenses (Classes 1–3) typically resulting in county jail sentences, fines, or probation
- Petty offenses and infractions — minor violations with limited criminal record implications
Adult records are generally accessible to the public under Colorado's open records framework. Juvenile records, however, are presumptively sealed pursuant to § 19-1-304 of the Colorado Children's Code, which restricts disclosure to protect minors from long-term consequences of youthful offenses. Active warrants represent current judicial orders for arrest and are maintained as live records, while historical records document resolved matters.
The principal agencies maintaining Garfield County criminal records include:
- Garfield County Sheriff's Office — arrest records, booking logs, jail rosters
- Garfield County District Court (9th Judicial District) — case filings, arraignments, pleas, trial records, sentencing orders
- Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) — statewide criminal history repository
- Glenwood Springs Police Department and Rifle Police Department — local arrest and incident reports
Records encompass the full lifecycle of a criminal case: charges filed, arraignment proceedings, plea agreements, trial outcomes, sentencing details, probation terms, and parole conditions. Members of the public seeking court case information may access the Garfield County courts through the Colorado Judicial Branch.
Garfield County Sheriff's Office 107 8th Street, Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 (970) 945-0453 Garfield County Sheriff's Office
Garfield County District Court – 9th Judicial District 109 8th Street, Suite 104, Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 (970) 945-5075 Colorado Judicial Branch – Garfield County
Colorado Bureau of Investigation 690 Kipling Street, Suite 3000, Denver, CO 80215 (303) 239-4300 Colorado Bureau of Investigation
Are Criminal Records Public In Garfield County
Criminal records in Garfield County are presumptively public under Colorado's open records law. The Colorado Criminal Justice Records Act (CCJRA), § 24-72-301 et seq., governs access to criminal justice records held by law enforcement agencies and courts throughout the state. Under the CCJRA, custodians of criminal justice records are required to make such records available for inspection and copying unless a specific statutory exemption applies.
Records that are open to the public under current law include:
- Adult conviction records and court dispositions
- Arrest records (subject to agency discretion for ongoing investigations)
- Court case filings, docket entries, and sentencing orders
- Sex offender registration information
- Active warrant information maintained by law enforcement
Records that are restricted or exempt from public disclosure include:
- Juvenile records, which are sealed by default under § 19-1-304
- Records pertaining to active or ongoing criminal investigations, where disclosure would impede law enforcement
- Sealed adult records pursuant to a court expungement or sealing order under § 24-72-706
- Victim identifying information in certain sensitive case categories
- Mental health and medical records associated with criminal proceedings
Custodians may deny access to records where disclosure would be contrary to the public interest, provided the denial is documented and subject to judicial review.
How To Look Up Criminal Records In Garfield County in 2026
Members of the public may obtain Garfield County criminal records through several official channels, depending on the type of record sought and the level of detail required.
Step 1 — Identify the appropriate agency. Court case records are held by the Garfield County District Court. Arrest and booking records are maintained by the Garfield County Sheriff's Office or the arresting municipal police department. Statewide criminal history reports are available through the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.
Step 2 — Gather required identifying information. Requestors should have the subject's full legal name, date of birth, and, where available, a case number or arrest date. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation requires a full set of fingerprints for official background check requests.
Step 3 — Submit the request through the appropriate channel:
- Court records — Submit a written public records request to the Garfield County District Court Clerk's Office in person at 109 8th Street, Suite 104, Glenwood Springs, CO 81601, or search online through the Colorado Judicial Branch's case search portal
- Arrest and jail records — Contact the Garfield County Sheriff's Office Records Division at 107 8th Street, Glenwood Springs, CO 81601, or submit a written request by mail
- Statewide criminal history — Submit a name-based or fingerprint-based request to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation online or by mail; fees apply
Step 4 — Pay applicable fees. Fees vary by agency and record type. The CBI currently charges a fee per name-based search and a separate fee for fingerprint-based searches. Court copy fees are set by the Colorado Supreme Court.
Step 5 — Await processing. Processing times vary. In-person requests at the court clerk's office are often fulfilled same-day for available records. CBI background checks may take several business days.
How To Find Criminal Records in Garfield County Online?
Several official online portals provide access to Garfield County criminal records without requiring an in-person visit.
Colorado Judicial Branch – Case Search (ICCES Public Access) The Colorado Judicial Branch operates an online case search system that allows members of the public to search court records by party name, case number, or attorney. The portal contains case filings, hearing dates, charges, and dispositions for cases handled in the Garfield County District Court. Access is available at no charge for basic case information. Users do not need to register to perform a basic search. Detailed documents may require in-person review or a copy fee.
Garfield County Sheriff's Office – Jail Roster The Sheriff's Office maintains a current online jail roster listing individuals presently held in the Garfield County Detention Center. The roster typically includes the detainee's name, booking date, charges, and bond information. This resource reflects current custody status only and does not constitute a comprehensive criminal history.
Colorado Bureau of Investigation – Online Background Checks The CBI provides an online portal for submitting name-based criminal history record requests. This service returns statewide conviction data compiled from law enforcement and court submissions across Colorado. Registration and payment are required.
Colorado Sex Offender Registry The CBI maintains the statewide sex offender registry, which is publicly searchable by name or geographic area and includes registrants residing in Garfield County.
Note that certain records — including sealed cases, expunged records, and detailed arrest narratives — are not available through online portals and require a formal written request submitted directly to the custodial agency.
Can You Search Garfield County Criminal Records for Free?
Under the Colorado Criminal Justice Records Act, § 24-72-301, members of the public have the right to inspect criminal justice records at no charge. The right of inspection is distinct from the right to obtain copies, for which agencies may assess reasonable fees.
Free inspection and search options currently available include:
- In-person inspection at the Garfield County District Court Clerk's Office — Members of the public may inspect court case files at the public counter during business hours (Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.) at 109 8th Street, Suite 104, Glenwood Springs, CO 81601
- Colorado Judicial Branch online case search — Basic case information, including charges and dispositions, is searchable at no cost through the court's public access portal
- Garfield County Sheriff's Office jail roster — The current inmate roster is publicly accessible online at no charge
- Colorado Sex Offender Registry — Searchable online at no cost through the CBI website
Fees are assessed for printed or certified copies of records, fingerprint-based background checks through the CBI, and certain specialized record requests. Agencies are required to provide a fee schedule upon request.
What's Included in a Garfield County Criminal Record?
A complete Garfield County criminal record may contain several categories of information, depending on the source agency and the nature of the subject's criminal history.
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 CBI
- FBI Number (if applicable for federal records)
Arrest Information:
- Date, time, and location of arrest
- Arresting agency and officer
- Booking number and detention facility
- Charges filed at time of arrest
- Bail or bond amount and conditions
- Garfield County Detention Center booking data
Court Case Information:
- Case number and court of jurisdiction (Garfield County District Court, 9th Judicial District)
- Filing date and case type
- Charges and applicable Colorado Revised Statutes, including felony or misdemeanor classification
- Plea entered (guilty, not guilty, no contest)
- Attorney of record and prosecuting agency
Disposition Information:
- Verdict (guilty, not guilty, dismissed, deferred judgment)
- Conviction date
- Sentencing details: incarceration type and length, fines, restitution, community service, deferred sentences
- Probation or parole terms and supervising agency
- Appeals filed and outcomes
Additional Record Elements:
- Active or recalled warrants
- Protective and restraining orders
- Sex offender registration status
- DUI/DWI convictions and administrative license actions
- Traffic violations classified as criminal offenses
- Pending charges and open cases
How Long Does Garfield County Keep Criminal Records?
Garfield County criminal records are retained in accordance with Colorado's statutory retention requirements and the Colorado State Archives General Records Schedule. Retention periods vary by record type and agency.
- Felony conviction records — Retained permanently by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and the District Court
- Misdemeanor conviction records — Retained permanently at the state level; court records retained for a minimum of 10 years following case closure
- Arrest records without conviction — Retained by law enforcement agencies for a minimum of 3 to 5 years; subject to sealing upon petition under § 24-72-706
- Juvenile records — Retained until the subject reaches age 28, after which records are eligible for destruction unless the matter involved a serious felony
- Booking and jail records — Retained by the Sheriff's Office for a minimum of 7 years
- Probation records — Retained for a minimum of 7 years following discharge from supervision
- Expunged or sealed records — Removed from public access but retained in restricted form by the originating agency and the CBI for law enforcement purposes
The Colorado State Archives publishes the General Records Schedule for Local Governments, which governs minimum retention periods for county-level criminal justice records. Agencies may retain records beyond the minimum period at their discretion.