Aurora Background Check Guide
Aurora is the third largest city in Colorado. More than 386,000 people live here. The city spans three counties: Arapahoe, Adams, and Douglas. Most of Aurora falls in Arapahoe County, which is the primary county for criminal records and court filings. Running a background check in Aurora draws on city, county, and state record sources. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation processes all state-level criminal history checks for Aurora and every other city in Colorado. The Arapahoe County Sheriff also runs a records portal for local criminal history requests. This guide covers each way to run an Aurora background check.
Aurora Quick Facts
Aurora CBI Criminal History Check
The most common way to run a background check in Aurora is the CBI Internet Criminal History Check. This is a name-based criminal record search. It costs $6 and runs through the CBI state database online at cbirecordscheck.com. The tool pulls arrest records and conviction records from all 64 Colorado counties, not just Arapahoe. Aurora residents use this check more than any other type because it is fast and cheap.
To start an Aurora background check, visit the CBI portal and fill out the search form with the full name and date of birth of the person you need to check.
The CBI criminal history check portal returns results based on the state's central record of arrest and conviction data for Aurora and all of Colorado.
A name-based criminal history check has some limits. It relies on name and date of birth to match records. Common names can lead to false hits on an Aurora background check. If you need a more precise result, a fingerprint-based background check is the next step. The CBI runs both types of checks, and both cover Aurora. Name-based checks work well as a first step for most Aurora residents who need a quick look at criminal record data.
Note: The CBI criminal history check is not a certified record. It is for personal use and does not replace a fingerprint-based background check.
Aurora Fingerprint Background Check
A fingerprint-based background check gives the most precise results for Aurora residents. Prints are tied to one person, so there is no risk of a false match. Aurora residents can get prints taken at CBI-approved vendors and have results sent to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation in nearby Lakewood for processing. This type of background check is the gold standard for criminal record searches in Aurora.
Two main vendors serve Aurora for fingerprint-based background checks. IdentoGO runs sites across the Denver metro area with walk-in and appointment slots near Aurora.
IdentoGO is one of the CBI-approved vendors that processes fingerprint cards for Aurora residents who need a full criminal history background check.
Colorado Fingerprinting is a second CBI-approved vendor for Aurora background checks. They also run sites in the Denver metro area. Both vendors take your prints and send them to the CBI. The CBI checks those prints at the state level first. If you add the FBI check, they forward them to the federal criminal record database.
Costs for fingerprint background checks in Aurora depend on scope. A Colorado-only criminal history check runs $16.50 to $17.50. A combined Colorado and FBI background check costs $39.50. These fees are set by the CBI and apply to all residents. Plan for one to three weeks for fingerprint background check results from the CBI.
Arapahoe County Criminal Records for Aurora
Most of Aurora sits in Arapahoe County. The Sheriff's Office is a key source for local criminal records used in an Aurora background check. The Arapahoe County Sheriff runs an online records portal for criminal history reports, clearance letters, and other record types. The portal is at recordsrequest.arapahoegov.com. Aurora residents use this portal to request local criminal record data that may not show in a CBI name-based check.
The Arapahoe County portal covers records held by the Sheriff's Office. It does not cover Aurora Police Department records on its own. But many criminal cases from Aurora flow through the Arapahoe County court system, and those records show up in county-level background checks. Walk-in requests are no longer taken. All Aurora background check requests go through the web portal or by phone.
Aurora residents in Adams County or Douglas County parts of the city may have records split across counties. A CBI criminal history check is the best way to catch records from all three counties at once for an Aurora background check.
Note: The Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office does not take walk-in traffic for records. Use the online portal for all Aurora background check requests.
Aurora Court Record Search
Court records add detail to an Aurora background check. They show case outcomes, charges, and sentences that go beyond what a criminal history check reveals. The Colorado Courts docket search tool lets you look up Aurora cases by name or case number. It covers all state courts, so it picks up records filed in Arapahoe, Adams, and Douglas counties for Aurora.
The CBI criminal record check shows arrests and charges. The court docket shows what happened next. Did the Aurora case go to trial? Was the charge dropped? Did the person plead guilty? These facts only show up in court records. For a full criminal history picture in Aurora, you need both the CBI background check and a court record search.
Court records in Colorado are public in most cases. Sealed records will not show up in an Aurora background check. Cases that were dismissed may still appear in the docket, but a sealed case will not. This is important for Aurora residents who want to know what a criminal record check will reveal.
Aurora Criminal Record Access Laws
Colorado law sets the rules for criminal record access in Aurora. Under C.R.S. 24-72-304, criminal justice records may be open for inspection by any person. This applies to arrest records, conviction records, and basic case facts in Aurora. It covers records held by police, the Arapahoe County Sheriff, and the CBI.
There are limits on what an Aurora background check can show. Sealed records are off limits. Colorado lets people petition to seal certain criminal records after a waiting period. Drug offenses, petty offenses, and dismissed cases may qualify for sealing. A sealed record will not show up in a background check run through the CBI or the Arapahoe County portal. Aurora residents who think a record may be eligible for sealing should talk to a lawyer.
- Arrest records in Aurora are public under C.R.S. 24-72-304
- Conviction records are public and show in CBI background checks
- Sealed criminal records will not appear in any Aurora search
- Dismissed cases may still show until sealed by court order
- Juvenile records are not part of adult background checks in Aurora
The CBI headquarters in Lakewood processes all criminal history checks for the state. All criminal record data from Aurora funnels through the CBI. A single CBI background check captures the broadest set of state records. It is the standard tool for a background check in Aurora or anywhere in Colorado.
Multi-County Background Checks in Aurora
Aurora is one of few Colorado cities that crosses county lines. The city sits in Arapahoe, Adams, and Douglas counties. This matters for background checks in Aurora. A criminal record filed in Adams County will not show up in an Arapahoe County search. A record filed in Douglas County will not show in Adams County. Each county keeps its own local criminal records.
The CBI statewide criminal history check solves this problem for Aurora. It pulls criminal records from all 64 counties at once. For Aurora, this is the best first step. One background check covers all three counties and the rest of the state for just $6.
Here is how the three counties break down for Aurora background checks:
- Arapahoe County covers most of central and south Aurora
- Adams County covers north Aurora and parts near I-225
- Douglas County covers a small strip in the far south of Aurora
For most people, the CBI criminal history check plus the Arapahoe County Sheriff portal will cover the bulk of criminal records tied to an Aurora background check. Knowing which county your Aurora address falls in helps you pick the right local records portal if you need a county-level search on top of the CBI check.
Steps for an Aurora Background Check
Running a background check in Aurora takes a few clear steps. The process depends on what type of criminal record check you need. A name-based CBI background check is the fastest option for Aurora. A fingerprint background check is the most thorough. Most people in Aurora start with the name-based check and add a fingerprint check if they need certified criminal history results.
For a name-based Aurora background check, go to cbirecordscheck.com. Enter the full name and date of birth. Pay the $6 fee. Results come back in minutes for most criminal record searches. This background check covers all of Colorado and picks up criminal records from all three of Aurora's counties.
For a fingerprint background check in Aurora, visit IdentoGO or Colorado Fingerprinting to book a session near Aurora. The CBI processes the prints and returns criminal history results by mail. A Colorado-only fingerprint background check costs $16.50 to $17.50. A Colorado and FBI background check costs $39.50.
For local criminal records only, use the Arapahoe County Sheriff portal at recordsrequest.arapahoegov.com. This gives you records held by the Sheriff's Office. It is a good add-on to the CBI background check if you want to see what the local office has on file for Aurora.
Note: Name-based CBI checks are not fingerprint-verified. For the most accurate Aurora background check results, use a fingerprint-based criminal history search.
Arapahoe County Background Check
Aurora's primary county is Arapahoe County, which handles most court filings and criminal records for the city. The Arapahoe County background check page has full details on the Sheriff's records portal, clearance letters, fingerprinting hours, concealed handgun permit checks, and contact information for the Records Section in Littleton. Aurora residents who need county-level criminal record data should start there.