Criminal Background Checks in Colorado

Criminal Histories must be Retrieved through the Colorado Bureau of Investigation or CBI
The Colorado Bureau of Investigation, otherwise known as the CBI, is part of the Colorado Department of Public Safety. The agency maintains the database for criminal records in the state of Colorado, also referred to as the CCH (short for computerized criminal history).

Included in this database are arrest records and fingerprints of individuals arrested, tried, or convicted in the state. The database does not include the records of juvenile offenders or any sealed records or warrant information. If you are seeking sex offender information, then you must check with local Colorado law enforcement agencies rather than obtaining the details from the CCH.

Criminal Records can be Conveniently Accessed over the Internet
To obtain criminal histories, first you'll need to set up an account with the CBI. If you only need one criminal record, then establishing an account is not necessary and you can pay for the search individually online. For employers or others who set up an account, arrest information can be obtained through the CCH about anyone whose fingerprints are also on file. The database allows users to conveniently access the information online without having to wait for the results by mail.

Records are Available to Employers and the Public for a Small Charge
You can choose one of two ways to access criminal records. You can either complete a form and send a $13 fee through the mail or pay $6.85 for each name searched through the CCH. If you choose the second option, the payment can be made by using a major credit card. Criminal records are accessed by searching the name of the subject. Because records are compiled with an arrestee's fingerprints, the histories are regarded as open for public viewing. Therefore, both individuals and employers are able to obtain criminal history information online.

Inmate Records are Maintained by the Colorado Department of Corrections (CDOC)
Inmate records are maintained under the jurisdicton of the Colorado Department of Corrections (CDOC), which is responsible for the operation of twenty adult facilities. One juvenile facility is also under the domain of the CDOC as well. If you wish to look up the details of an inmate's arrest, disposition, and conviction, then you can perform the search online by accessing the Colorado Department of Corrections website.

The site, which is open to the public, offers a search feature that allows you to look up an inmate's record by his Department of Corrections (DOC) number. However, if you don't have the number, then you can also find the inmate using his date of birth (DOB) and name.

Inmate Records: What they Contain
The CDOC houses histories that include such details as the location of the facility where the inmate resides, his tentative date of release or any upcoming court dates. You can also access any information about a pending parole. Identifying information is made available in the form of a photograph and details about the subject's eye and hair color as well as height and weight.