Federal Heights Arrest Records

Arrest records in Federal Heights, Colorado are processed through Adams County. Federal Heights is a small city in the north Denver metro area, surrounded by Northglenn, Westminster, and Thornton. The Federal Heights Police Department handles law enforcement, but all arrest bookings go to the Adams County detention facility in Brighton. This page explains how to search for Federal Heights arrest records through the county sheriff, the CBI, and the state court system. Every option is covered below, from free online searches to formal paid records requests.

Adams County Sheriff and Federal Heights

The Adams County Sheriff's Office runs the detention facility where Federal Heights arrests are booked. The jail is at 150 North 19th Avenue, Brighton, CO 80601. When Federal Heights police arrest someone, they transport the person to this facility. The sheriff logs all booking data, including charges, bond amount, and arrest date.

Adams County has a free online inmate search tool. You can search by name to find anyone currently in the jail. Results show booking information and charges. The data updates daily by 7 AM. This tool is completely free. No account is needed. Just type in a name and check the results.

The sheriff also runs a warrant search tool. This shows active warrants in Adams County. Both tools update at the same time each morning. If you are looking for someone arrested in Federal Heights, start with these two searches. They give you the most current information available.

For records questions, call the Adams County Sheriff's records unit at (303) 655-3490. The general information line is (303) 654-1850. Non-emergency dispatch is (303) 288-1535.

Federal Heights Police Department

The Federal Heights Police Department provides law enforcement for the city. Officers patrol the streets, respond to calls, and make arrests. The department is small compared to neighboring cities, but it handles a steady volume of cases given the city's location along Federal Boulevard, a busy north-south corridor.

You can request arrest reports from the Federal Heights Police Department directly. Under the CCJRA, records of official action are public. An arrest is official action. The department must release the record unless it has been sealed or falls under a specific exception like juvenile records. Contact the department to ask about fees, forms, and processing times for your request.

Federal Heights PD also works with the North Metro Drug Task Force and other regional teams. Arrests from joint operations may have records held by multiple agencies. If the Federal Heights Police don't have the specific record you need, they can usually tell you which agency does.

CBI Criminal History Check

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation runs a statewide criminal history database that includes Federal Heights arrests. The CBI Records Check costs $6.00 per name. Enter the person's full legal name and date of birth for instant results. The search covers all 64 Colorado counties, so any Federal Heights arrest that involved fingerprinting at the Adams County jail will appear.

By mail, the CBI charges $13.00. Send your request to 690 Kipling Street, Suite 4000, Lakewood, CO 80215. Include a check payable to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. Mail searches take 3 to 5 business days. The CBI accepts Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express for online payments. Credit card transactions over the phone are not accepted.

CCJRA and Records Access

The Colorado Criminal Justice Records Act controls public access to arrest records in Federal Heights. The law is at C.R.S. 24-72-301 through 24-72-309. It divides criminal justice records into two categories. Records of official action must be released. Other criminal justice records are at the custodian's discretion.

An arrest is an official action. So are charges, indictments, and dispositions. Any person can request these records. No stated reason is required. The agency must provide access or explain why the record falls outside the public access requirement.

Record sealing affects what you can find. The CBI now automatically seals arrest records when no charges are filed within one year of the arrest, for arrests happening on or after January 1, 2022. This means some Federal Heights arrests may have been sealed if the case was dropped or never prosecuted. Older records can be sealed by court petition under C.R.S. 24-72-706.

Court Records from Federal Heights Cases

Federal Heights is in the 17th Judicial District. Criminal cases go to the Adams County courthouse. You can search court records through the Colorado Courts records search tool. Enter a name or case number to find case details.

Court records are more detailed than arrest records. They show the charges the district attorney actually filed, all hearing dates, any pleas, and the final result of the case. An arrest record just tells you someone was booked. The court record tells you the whole story. Some records are not in the online system. Sealed cases and restricted records do not appear. Call the Adams County clerk of court for help with those.

VINE and Sex Offender Registry

Track custody changes for someone arrested in Federal Heights through Colorado VINE. This is a free service. Sign up online or call 1-888-263-8463. You get alerts by phone, email, or text when an inmate at the Adams County jail is released or transferred. VINE runs 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

For sex offender data, check the Colorado Sex Offender Registry. The CBI updates this database every hour. It shows felony sex offenders and those who failed to register in the Federal Heights area. For a complete local list, contact the Federal Heights Police or the Adams County Sheriff.

Nearby Cities

Federal Heights is surrounded by several larger cities in the north Denver metro area. Each has its own arrest records resources and county connections.