Arvada Background Check Records
Arvada sits in Jefferson County and extends into parts of Adams County. The city has about 124,000 residents. It is the seventh-largest city in Colorado. Arvada holds a unique position for background checks because the Colorado Bureau of Investigation operates a regional office right in the city at 6000 W. 54th Ave. This Arvada CBI office handles records and background check services for the region. Residents of Arvada can also request criminal records from the Jefferson County Sheriff Records Unit in Golden. Both the CBI and the county provide paths to obtain background check records tied to Arvada.
Arvada Quick Facts
CBI Regional Office in Arvada
The Colorado Bureau of Investigation maintains a regional office in Arvada. This is one of the few CBI field offices in the state. It is at 6000 W. 54th Ave., Arvada, CO 80002. The phone number is 303-463-7000.
Having a CBI office in Arvada gives local residents direct access to the state agency that manages criminal records across all 64 Colorado counties. This is a significant advantage for anyone in Arvada who needs to run a background check, request a records correction, or resolve a criminal history issue with CBI staff face to face. CBI is the central hub for background check data in Colorado. The agency collects arrest records, court dispositions, and conviction data from every law enforcement agency in the state.
When you run a background check in Arvada through the CBI system, the results draw from this statewide pool of criminal records rather than just a single county. The Arvada CBI office supports regional law enforcement and handles records inquiries from the Arvada area and nearby cities.
| CBI Arvada Office |
6000 W. 54th Ave. Arvada, CO 80002 Phone: 303-463-7000 |
|---|---|
| Jeffco Sheriff Records |
200 Jefferson County Parkway Golden, CO 80401 Phone: 303-271-5542 |
Most Arvada residents who need a background check will use one of two paths. The first is the CBI Internet Criminal History Check, available to anyone in Arvada online. The second is a records request through the Jefferson County Sheriff. Each option has its own fees. The process differs too.
The right choice depends on what kind of Arvada background check records you need and how fast you need them.
Note: The CBI Arvada office is a regional field office. For online background check requests, use the CBI web portal at cbirecordscheck.com regardless of your location.
Arvada Background Check via CBI
The CBI Internet Criminal History Check is the fastest way to run a background check from Arvada. It costs $6.00. You run it online. Any device works. The system returns results from the CBI criminal database, which covers records from all Colorado counties.
This is a name-based search. It checks the name you enter against the statewide records pool that includes Arvada criminal history data. The CBI database is updated regularly by law enforcement agencies across Colorado.
To start an Arvada background check through CBI, go to the CBI records check portal. Enter the full name and date of birth. The system runs the check right away. Results come back fast for most Arvada searches. Pay the $6.00 fee online.
The portal shown above is where Arvada residents submit name-based background check requests. Results include arrest records, charges, and dispositions from across the state.
A name-based check has limits. It only finds records tied to the exact name you search. If a person used a different name at the time of arrest, that record may not appear in your Arvada background check results. For a more thorough search, a fingerprint-based check is the better option because it matches prints against both state and federal criminal databases tied to identity rather than name alone.
Arvada residents who want the most complete background check results should consider fingerprinting through a CBI vendor. Name searches are faster but less thorough. Fingerprint checks take longer but cover more ground.
Fingerprint Checks in Arvada
A fingerprint-based background check gives a fuller picture than a name search. CBI processes these checks through approved vendors. The Jefferson County Sheriff only does fingerprinting for two specific purposes: liquor license applications and concealed handgun permits. For all other fingerprint-based background check needs in Arvada, you must go through a CBI Approved Vendor rather than the Arvada Police Department or the Jefferson County Sheriff Records Unit.
Two main vendors serve the Arvada area for fingerprint background checks:
- IdentoGO runs electronic fingerprint stations at locations near Arvada and across the Denver metro area
- Colorado Fingerprinting offers mobile and walk-in fingerprint services for CBI background checks
Both vendors capture prints digitally. They send them straight to CBI. This cuts out delays from ink cards. CBI then runs your prints against the state criminal database and, if requested, the FBI database as well.
The FBI check adds records from all 50 states, which means an Arvada fingerprint background check can reveal criminal history from any jurisdiction in the country. For a thorough Arvada background check, fingerprints beat a name-only search. Most vendors in the Denver metro area offer same-day print sessions.
The CBI main page for records and background checks lists all approved vendors and explains how the fingerprint process works. Fees vary by vendor and by the type of background check you need in Arvada.
The CBI page above covers the full range of background check options. It includes links to vendor sites, fee details, and processing timelines that apply to Arvada residents.
Note: Jefferson County Sheriff fingerprinting is limited to liquor license and concealed handgun permit applicants. All other Arvada fingerprint requests must use a CBI vendor.
Arvada Records from Jefferson County
The Jefferson County Sheriff Records Unit handles criminal justice records for all of Jefferson County, including Arvada. The office is at 200 Jefferson County Parkway in Golden. Call 303-271-5542. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm.
This is the go-to office for Arvada records tied to Jefferson County law enforcement activity. Walk-in service is available at the Golden location. Bring a valid photo ID when you visit.
Each Arvada background check request through the county has a $3.00 processing fee. The first hour of research time is free under C.R.S. 24-72-205(6)(a). After that first free hour, additional research fees apply based on the staff time and resources needed to pull your Arvada background check records from the archives. Large requests may need a deposit. The Records Unit accepts Visa, Mastercard, checks, money orders, and cash.
The Jefferson County Criminal Justice Records page lists what the Records Unit can and cannot provide for an Arvada background check. Court files go through the clerk. Probation records are separate. Vehicle accident reports and vital records are handled by other offices. For Arvada background check records tied to Sheriff activity, this unit is the right source.
If you do not want to visit Golden in person, you can submit your Arvada background check request online through the NextRequest portal. Create an account. Describe the records you need. The system tracks your request as it moves through the process, and staff may contact you if they need more details about your Arvada records request. The $3.00 processing fee still applies online.
Court Records for Arvada Cases
Criminal cases from Arvada go through the First Judicial District Court in Jefferson County. Court records are separate from sheriff records. The clerk handles case files. You can look up Arvada court records online through the Colorado Judicial Branch docket search. This tool is free. No account is needed. Search by name, case number, or date.
The docket search covers district and county court cases. It shows case type, filing date, and parties. Scheduled hearings appear too. It does not show full document text.
For copies of actual court documents tied to an Arvada case, contact the clerk of court in Jefferson County directly. Court records are a key part of any Arvada background check that involves criminal charges or civil cases filed in the First Judicial District.
Arvada sits mostly in Jefferson County. A small part extends into Adams County. If a crime occurred in the Adams County portion of Arvada, those records go through Adams County courts and the Adams County Sheriff. They do not go through the Jefferson County offices that handle most Arvada background check requests. Check which county applies first.
Note: Arvada spans two counties. Verify whether your background check records fall under Jefferson County or Adams County based on the location of the incident.
How to Run a Background Check in Arvada
Running a background check in Arvada comes down to picking the right source. Each option gives different records. Costs vary too. Here is a summary of the main paths for Arvada residents seeking criminal history or public record data.
The CBI ICHC is the quickest Arvada background check option. Go to cbirecordscheck.com. Pay $6.00. Enter a name and date of birth. Get statewide results in minutes. This works well for a fast Arvada check using a name-based search.
For a deeper Arvada background check, use a fingerprint vendor. Schedule a session with IdentoGO or Colorado Fingerprinting. Prints go to CBI and the FBI. Results are tied to identity. This path catches records that a name search might miss in Arvada.
For local Arvada records from Jefferson County, call 303-271-5542 or use the NextRequest portal. The $3.00 fee covers processing. You get records specific to Arvada law enforcement activity. This is useful when you know the Arvada background check records you need are local.
Arvada Background Check Legal Rules
Colorado law governs how background check records are handled in Arvada. The Colorado Criminal Justice Records Act sets the rules. Every Arvada records request falls under this law. Under C.R.S. 24-72-304, official criminal justice records that are not classified as confidential are open to the public.
Arrest records are public. Charges are public. Court outcomes are public too. Sealed and juvenile records are not available through a standard Arvada background check.
Agencies can charge fees for records. The cost must not exceed the actual cost of providing them. That is why the Jefferson County fee is just $3.00 for an Arvada background check request. The first hour of research is free.
If your Arvada background check request is denied, you owe nothing. You can challenge the denial. If you believe a report contains errors, dispute it with CBI. The agency reviews and corrects inaccurate data in Arvada background check records through a formal dispute process.
Contact CBI at the Arvada regional office at 303-463-7000 to start a dispute. You can also reach them online. These protections apply to all Arvada records requests.
Jefferson County Background Check Records
Arvada falls under Jefferson County for most background check purposes. The county page has full details on the Sheriff Records Unit, fees, fingerprinting rules, the NextRequest portal, and concealed handgun permits. Visit the county page for a broader view of how background checks work across Jefferson County, including Arvada, Lakewood, and Westminster.