Colorado Springs Background Check
Colorado Springs is the second-largest city in Colorado and the seat of El Paso County. More than 480,000 people live here. A background check in Colorado Springs starts with knowing which office holds the records you need. The El Paso County Sheriff's Office keeps police reports but does not run background checks for the public. Instead, residents use the Colorado Bureau of Investigation or a fingerprint vendor to get a full criminal history check. This guide walks through each step so you can find the right path for your search in Colorado Springs.
Colorado Springs Quick Facts
El Paso County Sheriff Records
The El Paso County Sheriff's Office Records Unit is at 27 East Vermijo Ave in Colorado Springs, CO 80903. You can call them at (719) 520-7177 or send an email to shrrecordsrelease@elpasoco.com. This office holds police reports, arrest records, and incident files for the parts of El Paso County that the sheriff patrols. It is the main place to ask for copies of law enforcement records tied to Colorado Springs and the rest of El Paso County.
It is key to know that the sheriff does not run background checks for the public. The Records Unit can give you copies of reports, but it will not pull a full criminal history for you. Records are released in line with Colorado Revised Statutes, and some parts may be blacked out to protect private data. Each report request goes through a review step before it is sent out.
The fee for a report is $8.00 for review and redaction on reports up to 10 pages. Longer reports cost more. If you need a police report from a case in Colorado Springs, this is the right office. But if your goal is a criminal background check, you will need to use one of the state-level tools listed below.
| Office | El Paso County Sheriff's Office Records Unit |
|---|---|
| Address | 27 East Vermijo Ave Colorado Springs, CO 80903 |
| Phone | (719) 520-7177 |
| shrrecordsrelease@elpasoco.com | |
| Report Fee | $8.00 (up to 10 pages) |
CBI Criminal History Check
The Colorado Bureau of Investigation runs the official state background check system. It is called the Internet Criminal History Check, or ICHC. This is the fastest way for Colorado Springs residents to get a name-based criminal record search. The check pulls data from the CBI criminal history database, which holds arrest and court records from all 64 Colorado counties, including El Paso County.
You can run a Colorado Springs background check through the CBI online portal from any device. The fee is just $6.00. You pay with a card, and results come back right away in most cases. The search uses the name and date of birth you enter. It then checks those against all criminal records on file with the CBI. This is a good first step for anyone who needs a quick look at a person's criminal history in Colorado Springs.
The CBI online portal at cbirecordscheck.com lets you start an instant criminal history search for Colorado Springs and all of Colorado.
Results from the ICHC show records held by the CBI. The data comes from law enforcement and court systems across the state. Keep in mind that a name-based check may miss records if a name was entered with a slight variation.
The CBI records and background checks page has full details on what each type of check covers. Name-based checks and fingerprint-based checks serve different needs. A name-based check is a quick scan. A fingerprint check is more thorough because it links to a unique set of prints, not just a name. For most personal uses in Colorado Springs, the $6.00 online check is enough.
Note: The CBI online check only shows Colorado records. It does not include records from other states or federal courts.
Fingerprint Background Checks
A fingerprint-based background check is more thorough than a name search. It ties the check to a unique set of prints, which removes the risk of false matches. Colorado Springs has two main vendors that offer this type of check. Both are approved by the CBI and can send your prints to the FBI for a national search if you need one.
IdentoGO runs fingerprint sites across the state. They have locations in and near Colorado Springs where you can walk in or book a time. You pick a service code based on the type of check you need, then go in to have your prints taken on a digital scanner. Results go straight to the CBI, and you get them once they are done. The process is fast and takes about 15 minutes at the site.
Colorado Fingerprinting is the other main option. They run the Colorado Applicant Background Services program, known as CABS. This is used for state-level and FBI checks. You can book a session at one of their offices in the Colorado Springs area. Fees vary by the type of check, but most start around $10 to $15 on top of the CBI and FBI fees.
The CBI also provides guidance on fingerprint-based checks for Colorado Springs residents through its records and background checks page.
Fingerprint checks are often required for professional licenses, volunteer work, and other roles in Colorado Springs that involve trust or access to at-risk groups.
Colorado Springs Open Records
Colorado has a strong open records law. The Colorado Open Records Act, or CORA, gives the public the right to inspect most government records. This includes many types of records held by El Paso County and the City of Colorado Springs. If you want to look at a specific file, you can submit a CORA request to the agency that holds it.
Under CORA, the first two hours of staff time to find and pull your records are free. After that, the county charges $29.50 per hour for research time. There may also be copy fees. CORA requests can be sent by mail or email to the county. The county must respond in three business days, though they can ask for more time if the request is large. This is a useful tool for Colorado Springs residents who want to look at public files held by local or county offices.
Under C.R.S. 24-72-304, criminal justice records may be open for public inspection. This means arrest records, booking logs, and some case files from Colorado Springs can be viewed by anyone. But the law does allow some records to be withheld if they could harm an ongoing case or put someone at risk. Each request is checked on its own facts.
Note: Not all records are open. Sealed cases, juvenile files, and some victim data are not available for public review in Colorado Springs.
Court Record Searches
Court records are a big part of any background check in Colorado Springs. El Paso County falls in the 4th Judicial District. All criminal, civil, and traffic cases filed in this district are part of the state court system. You can search for case records online, which makes it easy to look up a person's court history from your home or office.
The Colorado Judicial Branch docket search lets you look up cases by name or case number. This free tool covers all state courts, so you can find records from Colorado Springs and the rest of El Paso County in one place. The search shows case type, filing date, charges, and the current status. It does not show sealed or expunged cases.
If you need certified copies of court records from Colorado Springs, you must contact the El Paso County clerk of court. Plain copies can often be printed from the online system. Certified copies cost more and must be picked up or mailed from the clerk's office. For a thorough background check in Colorado Springs, it is wise to pair a court record search with the CBI criminal history check.
How to Run a Check
Running a background check in Colorado Springs takes a few steps, but none of them are hard. The path you pick depends on what type of records you need and how deep you want the search to go. Here is a simple way to think about your choices.
For a quick name-based criminal check, go to the CBI portal at cbirecordscheck.com. Pay $6.00, type in the name and date of birth, and get results fast. This is the most common way to start a background check in Colorado Springs. It pulls all Colorado criminal records tied to that name.
For a more complete check, visit an IdentoGO or Colorado Fingerprinting site in Colorado Springs. A fingerprint-based check links to a unique ID and can include both state and FBI records. This type of check takes longer but is more precise. It is a good choice when you need to be sure about the results of a background check in Colorado Springs.
- Name-based CBI check: $6.00 online, results in minutes
- Fingerprint check (state): runs through CBI, takes 1 to 3 days
- Fingerprint check (FBI): adds a national search, takes up to 2 weeks
- Police report from sheriff: $8.00 for up to 10 pages
- CORA request: first 2 hours free, then $29.50 per hour
For court records, use the state docket search at courts.state.co.us. This free tool shows all cases filed in El Paso County courts. It is a strong add-on to any background check done in Colorado Springs.
Tips for Colorado Springs Searches
Spelling matters. When you run a name-based background check in Colorado Springs, a small typo can cause you to miss records. Use the full legal name and check the date of birth twice. If you are not sure of the exact name, try common variants. The CBI system does not do fuzzy matching, so each search must be precise.
Pair your sources. A single check may not catch all records. The CBI check shows state records, but it will not show out-of-state data. Court records show local cases but may not include arrests that did not lead to charges. By using more than one tool, you build a more complete picture for your background check in Colorado Springs.
Keep track of fees. The CBI check costs $6.00. A sheriff report costs $8.00. Fingerprint checks run $10 to $50 depending on the type. CORA requests start free but can add up if the search takes more than two hours. Plan your budget before you start so there are no surprises with your Colorado Springs background check.
Note: Records may take time to update. An arrest made last week in Colorado Springs may not yet show up in the CBI system. Court records also lag by a few days after a case is filed or changed.
El Paso County Background Checks
Colorado Springs is the county seat of El Paso County. The county covers a large area east of the Front Range and includes more than 730,000 residents across many cities and towns. All sheriff records, county court filings, and CORA requests for Colorado Springs go through El Paso County offices. For a broader look at county-wide resources, record types, and fees, visit the full El Paso County background check page.