Douglas County Active Warrants
Looking up warrant records in Douglas County starts with the sheriff's office in Castle Rock. This fast-growing county south of Denver maintains warrant records for over 368,000 residents. The Douglas County Sheriff's Office handles all active warrants including arrest warrants and bench warrants from the courts. You can call them at 303-660-7505 or visit the main office at 4000 Justice Way. Douglas County does not have an online warrant search tool, so phone and in-person inquiries are your only options for checking warrant status.
Douglas County Quick Facts
Douglas County Sheriff's Office
The main sheriff's office handles warrant inquiries for Douglas County. Call 303-660-7505 to ask about warrants. Staff can search by name and date of birth. The office is at 4000 Justice Way in Castle Rock. They also run a substation in Highlands Ranch at 9250 Zotos Drive.
No online warrant search exists for Douglas County. You must call or visit in person. The sheriff's office maintains a Most Wanted list on their website, but this only shows a few high-priority cases. For standard warrant checks, phone or walk-in visits are required during business hours in Douglas County.
| Main Office | 4000 Justice Way, Castle Rock, CO 80109 |
|---|---|
| Highlands Ranch Substation | 9250 Zotos Drive, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 |
| Phone | 303-660-7505 |
| Toll-Free | 800-654-2733 |
| dcso@dcsheriff.net | |
| Website | dcsheriff.net |
If you have a warrant, the sheriff's office can tell you the charge and bond amount. They will not give legal advice on clearing it. You need to work with a lawyer or the court for that. The sheriff only provides factual information about whether a warrant exists and basic details in Douglas County.
Douglas County District Court
Douglas County District Court is at 4000 Justice Way in Castle Rock, Suite 2009. This court issues bench warrants when people miss court dates or violate orders. The clerk's office can tell you if a bench warrant exists in a court case. Call 720-437-6200 to ask about court warrants in Douglas County.
District Court handles felonies and civil cases. When someone is charged with a serious crime, a warrant may get issued. The judge reviews evidence and signs the warrant if probable cause exists. These warrants go to the sheriff for execution. You can ask the clerk about warrants in specific cases in Douglas County.
| Court Address | 4000 Justice Way, Suite 2009, Castle Rock, CO 80109 |
|---|---|
| Court Phone | 720-437-6200 |
| Court Type | District Court |
| Website | coloradojudicial.gov |
Municipal Courts in Douglas County
Three cities in Douglas County run their own municipal courts. Castle Rock Municipal Court, Lone Tree Municipal Court, and Parker Municipal Court all issue bench warrants for city violations. Traffic tickets, code violations, and misdemeanors from city police go through these courts. Check with the specific city court if you got a citation from city police in Douglas County.
Municipal court warrants are separate from county warrants. The sheriff may not have info on city warrants. You need to contact the municipal court directly. Each city has its own procedures for checking and clearing warrants. Look up the court phone number for the city where the ticket was issued in Douglas County.
Municipal courts in Douglas County:
- Castle Rock Municipal Court
- Lone Tree Municipal Court
- Parker Municipal Court
Warrant Types in Douglas County
Arrest warrants are issued when police have probable cause to believe someone committed a crime. A judge reviews an affidavit before signing the warrant. These warrants allow police to arrest the person named. They remain active until the person is caught or the court recalls the warrant. Arrest warrants in Douglas County can involve any criminal charge from DUI to assault to theft.
Bench warrants come from the judge when someone fails to appear in court or violates a court order. Missing any scheduled court date can lead to a bench warrant. Not paying fines by the deadline is another common cause. The warrant orders police to bring you to court. These do not expire in Douglas County.
Search warrants let police search for evidence at a specific place. They must describe the location and what items are sought. These expire 14 days after being issued under Colorado law. The public cannot see active search warrants. Only arrest and bench warrants show up in warrant searches in Douglas County.
Common warrant situations here:
- Missing a court date for traffic or criminal matters
- Unpaid fines or court costs past the due date
- Violating probation terms or conditions of release
- New charges filed based on police investigation
- Contempt of court for not following orders
How to Search for Warrants
Call the sheriff's office at 303-660-7505. Give them a full name and date of birth. Staff will search the system for active warrants. This method works best if you are checking on someone else. For your own warrant, consider hiring a lawyer to check for you instead of calling directly.
You can also visit the sheriff's office in person at 4000 Justice Way in Castle Rock. Bring ID if you go. Staff can search right there. Be aware that asking about your own warrant may lead to immediate arrest if one exists. Many people use an attorney to check first in Douglas County.
The court clerk can tell you about bench warrants in court cases. If you have a case number, call 720-437-6200. The clerk will look it up and tell you if a bench warrant was issued. They can also explain what steps you need to take to resolve it in Douglas County.
Note: Warrants do not go away with time. They must be cleared through the court or by arrest.
How to Clear Warrants
Hiring a lawyer is the safest way to handle a warrant. They can file a motion to quash, which asks the judge to recall the warrant. This lets you appear in court voluntarily without getting arrested. The judge decides whether to grant this based on the charge and your criminal history in Douglas County.
Posting bond will clear many warrants. Call the court to find out the bond amount. Pay it at the courthouse or through a bondsman. Once bond is posted, the warrant goes away and you get a new court date. This option works for most misdemeanor and some felony warrants in Douglas County.
Some warrants can be resolved by paying fines. This applies to traffic tickets and minor violations. Call the clerk to ask if payment will clear the warrant. If so, you can pay and avoid arrest. More serious charges require a court appearance in Douglas County.
Turning yourself in is always possible. Go to the sheriff's office and tell them you have a warrant. They will book you and bring you before a judge. Many people get released the same day depending on the charge. This resolves the warrant but involves an arrest in Douglas County.
Colorado Warrant Statutes
Colorado law requires probable cause for arrest warrants. The Fourth Amendment and state statutes protect against unreasonable searches. A judge must review facts before signing a warrant. The police affidavit must show specific evidence that a crime occurred and the person named likely committed it in Douglas County.
Bench warrants come from the court's power to enforce its orders. When someone misses court, the judge can issue a warrant immediately. No separate hearing is needed. The warrant orders the person to appear before the court. Police can arrest on a bench warrant just like an arrest warrant in Douglas County.
Warrants do not expire in Colorado except search warrants. Arrest and bench warrants stay active until executed or recalled by the court. Some warrants from many years ago are still valid. The Colorado Judicial Branch provides general information about court procedures on their website.
Legal Help for Warrants
A criminal defense attorney can help with warrant issues in Douglas County. They can check if a warrant exists and work on clearing it. Many lawyers offer a free initial consultation. Hiring an attorney costs money but may save you from jail time. Look for lawyers who practice criminal defense in Douglas County.
Colorado Legal Services provides free legal help to people with low income. They may assist with some warrant matters. Call them to see if you qualify for their services. They cannot help everyone due to limited resources and high demand in Douglas County.
The Colorado Judicial Branch website has self-help resources and forms. This site does not give legal advice but explains court processes. You can find general information about warrants and how they work in Colorado courts.
Cities in Douglas County
Douglas County has several cities with populations over 25,000. All county-level warrants go through the Douglas County Sheriff's Office. Municipal court warrants are handled by each city's court system.
Other communities in Douglas County include Highlands Ranch, Lone Tree, Larkspur, and Roxborough. All file county cases through the Douglas County court system in Castle Rock.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Douglas County. Each has its own sheriff and court. A warrant from one county can be executed in another county. Check with each if you are not sure where a warrant was issued.