Arapahoe County Warrant Database

Searching for warrant records in Arapahoe County involves multiple agencies and jurisdictions due to the county's size and urban nature. With over 656,000 residents, Arapahoe County is one of Colorado's most populous counties and includes major cities like Aurora, Centennial, Littleton, and Englewood. The Sheriff's Office processes warrants issued by county and district courts while municipal courts in various cities handle their own warrant systems. To find comprehensive information you may need to check both county resources and individual municipal court databases. This guide explains where to search and how to access warrant records in Arapahoe County.

Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office

The Arapahoe County Sheriff maintains headquarters at 13101 E Broncos Parkway in Centennial. Main phone number is 303-795-4711. The Sheriff's Office handles warrant inquiries for county and district court warrants. They can verify if an active warrant exists when you provide a full name and date of birth. Staff may not discuss warrant specifics with the subject of the warrant over the phone. This policy exists to prevent flight and ensure arrests happen properly.

Arapahoe County doesn't offer a public online warrant search database. You must call or visit in person. Keep in mind that walking into the Sheriff's Office with an active warrant usually results in immediate arrest. Many people hire criminal defense attorneys to check warrant status on their behalf. A lawyer can verify the warrant, check bond amounts, and potentially arrange for a voluntary surrender that minimizes jail time. The Sheriff's Office also processes civil warrants, extraditions, and fugitive cases through specialized units.

District and County Courts

Arapahoe County has both district court and county court facilities. The district court sits at 7325 S Potomac Street in Centennial. Phone is 303-645-6600. District court handles felony criminal cases, major civil matters over $25,000, domestic relations, and juvenile cases. Warrants issued from district court cases are typically for more serious offenses. County court handles misdemeanors, traffic offenses, and civil cases under $25,000. Both courts can issue arrest warrants and bench warrants.

When someone fails to appear for a court date, the judge often issues a bench warrant. These accumulate quickly, especially in traffic and misdemeanor cases. You might have multiple bench warrants from different cases. Each one can have its own bond amount. The clerk's office can look up cases by name and tell you if warrants exist. They'll provide case numbers, charges, and bond amounts. This information helps you understand what you're facing before taking action to resolve the warrants.

Municipal Court Systems

Arapahoe County includes several cities with their own municipal courts. Aurora Municipal Court is the largest and handles cases from Aurora Police Department and other law enforcement agencies operating in Aurora. Other municipal courts include Centennial, Englewood, Glendale, Greenwood Village, Littleton, and Sheridan. Each court operates independently and issues its own warrants. A warrant from Littleton Municipal Court won't show up in Arapahoe County Sheriff records. You must check with each city separately.

Aurora offers online warrant information through its municipal court website. The court sits at 14999 E Alameda Parkway. Phone is 303-739-6444. For warrant questions specifically, call 303-739-6455. The online system lets you search for active municipal court warrants by name. Other cities in Arapahoe County may require phone calls or in-person visits to check warrant status. Municipal warrants are often for traffic violations, city ordinance violations, or misdemeanor offenses. They're still serious and can result in arrest.

Types of Warrants

Arrest warrants are issued when law enforcement presents probable cause to a judge that someone committed a crime. The judge reviews an affidavit detailing the evidence and signs the warrant if convinced. Arrest warrants can come from investigations where the suspect isn't in custody yet. They authorize police to take the person into custody anywhere they find them. Bench warrants stem from court order violations. Missing a court appearance is the most common reason. Violating probation or bond conditions also triggers bench warrants.

Failure to appear warrants are a subset of bench warrants. They're issued when someone misses a scheduled court date. Even a simple traffic ticket can escalate to a warrant if you don't show up. The court may also suspend your driver's license and add extra fees. Search warrants allow police to search homes, vehicles, or other locations for evidence. Those aren't public until executed. Fugitive warrants involve people wanted from outside Arapahoe County. The Sheriff's Office coordinates extraditions when someone is arrested on an out-of-county or out-of-state warrant.

Checking for Warrants

To check for county warrants, call the Arapahoe County Sheriff at 303-795-4711. Ask to speak with records or warrants division. Provide full name and date of birth. They'll search their system and let you know if anything exists. For court warrants, call the district court clerk at 303-645-6600. Give them the case number if you have it or provide name and birth date. The clerk can pull up case information and tell you about any warrants attached to cases.

Municipal warrant checks require calling each city court individually. Aurora is 303-739-6455. Littleton Municipal Court is 303-795-4500. Centennial cases go through Arapahoe County Court since Centennial doesn't have its own municipal court. Greenwood Village Municipal Court, Englewood Municipal Court, and others each have their own contact numbers. If you lived in multiple cities within Arapahoe County, check with all of them. Commercial background check websites claim to search warrants but they're often incomplete or outdated. Go directly to official sources for accurate information.

Colorado Legal Framework

Colorado statutes govern warrant procedures statewide. Under CRS 16-3-303, search warrants require affidavits establishing probable cause. The affidavit must identify what's being searched and what evidence is sought. Search warrants must be executed within 14 days under CRS 16-3-305. Arrest warrants and bench warrants don't expire. They remain active indefinitely until recalled by the court or the person is arrested.

CRS 16-2-110 addresses failure to appear. It's unlawful to ignore a summons or fail to appear when required. Judges have authority to issue bench warrants for non-compliance. Penalties include license suspension, bond revocation, and potential contempt of court charges. Additional fines and fees pile up. The longer you wait to address a warrant, the worse the consequences become. Acting quickly is always better than hoping the warrant goes away on its own.

Resolving Warrants

Hiring a criminal defense attorney is the smartest move when you have a warrant. The lawyer can file a motion to quash or recall the warrant. They might arrange for you to appear voluntarily rather than being arrested. Some attorneys negotiate walk-throughs where you meet them at the courthouse, appear before the judge, and leave without going to jail. This depends on the charges and your history. Violent felonies rarely qualify. Traffic warrants and minor misdemeanors have better chances.

If you can't afford an attorney, call the court directly. Ask what needs to happen to resolve the warrant. For failure to appear on traffic tickets, they might let you pay fines and close the case. For criminal matters, you'll likely need to appear before a judge. Some courts allow you to schedule an appearance to surrender voluntarily. Post bond if required. Bring money for fines if that's an option. Payment plans may be available if you can't pay everything at once. The court wants compliance more than they want to jail people for minor offenses.

Warrant Clearance Resources

Some Colorado counties hold periodic warrant clearance events where people can resolve minor warrants without arrest. Arapahoe County occasionally participates. These events typically handle traffic violations, misdemeanors, and low-level offenses. You might be able to pay fines, set up payment plans, or get new court dates without being detained. Serious felonies don't qualify. Check the Sheriff's website or call the court to find out about upcoming clearance events. They're not regular but when they happen they provide good opportunities.

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation maintains criminal history records but doesn't provide public warrant searches. CBI background checks show arrests and convictions, not active warrants. For warrant information you must contact local agencies. The Colorado Integrated Criminal Justice Information System connects courts, law enforcement, and corrections agencies. This system tracks warrants across jurisdictions but public access isn't available. Law enforcement can see warrants from any Colorado county when they run someone's name.

Practical Advice

Don't ignore warrants hoping they'll disappear. They won't. You could be arrested during a traffic stop, at work, or at home. That's embarrassing and disruptive. Dealing with warrants proactively gives you control over timing and circumstances. An attorney can help minimize consequences. Even without a lawyer, calling the court and asking about options is better than doing nothing. Courts generally work with people who make honest efforts to comply.

Be aware that Arapahoe County is large and complex. Warrants can come from multiple courts and jurisdictions. Check thoroughly to make sure you find everything. Aurora warrants are separate from county warrants. Littleton warrants are separate from Aurora warrants. Each city and court maintains its own records. It takes effort but you need complete information to resolve things properly. Missing one warrant means you're still at risk of arrest.

Additional Resources

Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office is at 13101 E Broncos Parkway, Centennial, CO 80112. Phone 303-795-4711. District Court Clerk is at 7325 S Potomac Street, Centennial, CO 80112. Phone 303-645-6600. Aurora Municipal Court is at 14999 E Alameda Parkway, Aurora, CO 80012. Phone 303-739-6444. For legal assistance, contact Colorado Legal Services if you qualify for free help based on income. The Colorado Bar Association runs a lawyer referral service. Local bail bondsmen can post bond for a fee, usually 10-15% of the total bond amount.