Colorado Warrants: Types, Searches, and What to Expect

A warrant is a legal document issued by a judge or magistrate that authorizes law enforcement to perform specific actions. This includes making an arrest, conducting a search, or asking someone to appear in court. While the concept of warrants is the same in the U.S., each state sets its procedures and access rules.

What Is a Warrant in Colorado?

In Colorado, a warrant is a judicial order based on probable cause. It is either signed by a judge or magistrate. Warrants are designed to protect constitutional rights while allowing law enforcement officers to implement the law. They may authorize:

• The arrest of an individual accused of a crime.
• The search and seizure of evidence from a specified location.
• A court appearance for someone who failed to obey an order.

Warrants are issued through Colorado’s County and District courts, depending on the case type. Also, Municipal Courts may issue warrants for local ordinance violations.

Types of Warrants in Colorado

Colorado courts issue several types of warrants, and the most common are:

1. Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant allows law enforcement to detain a specific individual. It is issued when prosecutors or police officers present sufficient evidence to a judge. The warrant contains the person’s name, charges, and jurisdiction.

2. Bench Warrants

Bench warrants are issued when someone fails to comply with a court order, such as missing a court date, failing to pay fines, or violating probation terms. They empower the police to arrest the individual and bring them before the court issuing the warrant.

3. Search Warrants

Search warrants authorize police officers to enter a property and seize evidence connected to a criminal investigation. Under Colorado law, the warrants describe the specific location and the particular items authorized to be seized. Search warrants are often executed within 14 days.

4. Civil Warrants

Civil warrants arise in non-criminal cases, such as debt collection, evictions, or small claims disputes. They typically compel a person to appear in court and may lead to garnishments or property seizures.

5. Fugitive or Out-of-State Warrants

If someone is declared wanted in another state and found in Colorado, a fugitive warrant is used. This allows the police to put them in detention until extradition. Alternatively, Colorado may issue a governor's warrant. Through this request, a person facing charges in the state may held and transferred to Colorado.

How to Search for Warrants in Colorado

Colorado does not maintain a central statewide warrant search system. Instead, access depends on the county or court involved. The common ways to search warrants in Colorado include:

1. Colorado Judicial Branch Case SearchPortal—TheCoCourts systemand other official court portals allow searches of case records by name. Warrants are often tied to pending cases.
2. County Sheriff’s Offices—Many sheriff offices have warrant divisions. Large counties, such as Denver, Arapahoe, and El Paso, provide online lookup tools or in-person assistance. In smaller counties, requests may be made by contacting the warrant division via call or in-person requests.
3. Municipal Courts—City Courts, such as those in Denver or Colorado Springs, handle misdemeanor and ordinance-related warrants. Municipal Court Clerks are available to confirm active warrants.
4. Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI)—Through its Criminal History Record Information (CHRI) system, the CBI maintains criminal records statewide. A search reflects warrant-related information, and to access records, individuals are required to pay a small fee.
5. Third-Party Search Tools—Some commercial services aggregate warrant and arrest information on their websites. However, individuals are to verify the data obtained from these platforms with official Colorado sources.

Public warrant records often include the individual’s name, case number, charges, type of warrant, bond details, and issuing court.

Warrant Records in Major Colorado Cities

Colorado’s justice system operates at the county level, and the process for performing a warrant search differs by location.

• Denver (Denver County): The Denver Sheriff’s Department maintains an online tool for checking warrants. Also, Denver County Court provides online case access through its public portal. Active warrant details are available in person or by phone.
• Colorado Springs (El Paso County): The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office maintains a warrant search tool on its website. The Colorado Springs Municipal Court also manages misdemeanor warrants.
• Aurora (Arapahoe and Adams Counties): Aurora residents may contact the appropriate county sheriff’s office to obtain warrant information. Arapahoe County and Adams County each maintain separate warrant divisions. The public may obtain full warrant information on this website.

Other counties, such as Boulder, Jefferson, and Larimer, follow similar methods. They have sheriff departments and county courts as the primary sources for obtaining warrant information.

What Happens After a Warrant Is Issued in Colorado?

When a warrant is issued, the outcome depends on the type of warrant:

• Arrest Warrants: The Police may take a person into custody at any time after obtaining an arrest warrant. After booking, the individual is brought before a judge for an initial appearance, and bail may be set.
• Bench Warrants: A person who ignores court obligations may be arrested and taken before a judge. Additional penalties such as fines or serving jail term may apply.
• Search Warrants: Police officers often execute the search without delay and seize items listed in the warrant. Evidence obtained from a search may be used in a trial.
• Civil Warrants: These often compel a person to appear in court. Failure to comply may result in default judgments, wage garnishment, or liens.

In general, the most common steps to resolving a Colorado warrant involve:

• Voluntarily attending court hearings.
• Hiring an attorney to arrange a surrender plan and negotiate bail terms.
• Paying fines or meeting court-ordered obligations.

Failure to address a warrant may lead to an arrest during routine stops and airport screenings. It may also result in employers uncovering warrants during background checks.

How Long Does a Warrant Stay Active in Colorado?

In Colorado, most warrants remain active until they are resolved:

• Arrest and bench warrants do not expire. They stay in effect until the person is arrested, appears in court, or the court recalls the warrant.
• Search warrants have short validity, often requiring execution within 14 days. After, they expire and may be reissued if the need arises again.
• Civil warrants remain valid until the case is resolved or the court withdraws them.

Furthermore, warrants may be quashed (cancelled) if issued in error or no longer valid by law. At times, they may be recalled if the subject complies with the court’s requirements or cleared once the person has been arrested or appears in court. Arrest and bench warrants do not expire over time; therefore, long-standing warrants may lead to an arrest.

Warrants are an important component of Colorado's justice system, ensuring that the law enforcement action satisfies a judicial basis. There are arrest warrants related to the underlying criminal case, bench warrants related to a missed court appearance, and search warrants related to an investigation. Each of these warrants can have serious implications.

Colorado residents can search for warrants through their county sheriff’s office, the municipal courts, the CBI, and/or a judicial branch case search. Regardless of the specific location of the warrant, generally, the ability to search for warrants varies by jurisdiction. Warrants never expire and must ultimately be satisfied, if not vacated, through the court process.

If you see that there is a warrant, it is important to do all you can to contact an attorney and/or the issuing court to resolve, if not vacate, the warrant. This is important for your own well-being so you do not risk being arrested unexpectedly and/or creating additional issues..