Thornton Arrest Records

Thornton arrest records are handled by the Adams County Sheriff's Office. Thornton sits in Adams County, just north of Denver, and is one of the most populated cities in the county. Thornton Police makes arrests within city limits, but booking and detention happen at the Adams County Detention Facility in Brighton. That booking process is what creates the official arrest record. This guide covers how to look up arrest records in Thornton using free county tools, the CBI statewide database, and the Colorado court system.

Adams County Processes Thornton Arrests

Every arrest made in Thornton goes to the Adams County jail for processing. The Adams County Detention Facility is at 150 North 19th Avenue, Brighton, CO 80601. The sheriff's headquarters sits at 4430 S. Adams County Pkwy., 1st Floor, Suite W5400, Brighton, CO 80601. Call (303) 654-1850 for general questions or (303) 655-3490 for the records division.

When Thornton Police arrests someone, the person gets booked at the Adams County facility. Booking staff takes fingerprints, photos, and logs the charges. That data goes into the arrest records system. The booking record shows the person's name, date of birth, charges, bond amount, and the date they were taken into custody. These records are considered public under state law.

Adams County also processes arrests from Commerce City, Brighton, Northglenn, Federal Heights, and other cities in the county. All records end up in one system.

How to Search Thornton Arrest Records

Adams County runs a free inmate search at Adams County Inmate Search. Type in a name and the tool shows you anyone currently in custody. The data updates daily by 7 AM. It includes the person's charges, booking date, and bond status.

The county also has a separate warrant search tool. This lets you check if someone has an active warrant in Adams County. Both tools are free and do not need an account.

For older Thornton arrest records, you need to call or visit the Adams County records division. The records line is (303) 655-3490. Records staff can provide copies of booking records and case reports under the CCJRA. Fees vary depending on the type of document. Some reports may have redactions for juvenile data or sex assault victim information.

Thornton Police Department

Thornton Police Department handles all law enforcement within city limits. The main office is at 9551 Civic Center Drive, Thornton, CO 80229. The non-emergency number is 720-977-5150. Officers write arrest reports after taking someone into custody. Those police reports stay with the Thornton PD.

If you need the officer's narrative from a Thornton arrest, contact the police records division. The booking record from Adams County gives you the basics. The police report gives you more detail about why the arrest happened and what led up to it.

Thornton also has a municipal court for city-level violations. Some misdemeanor arrests may be handled through municipal court rather than the Adams County court system.

CBI Statewide Search for Thornton Arrest Records

The CBI criminal history database holds arrest records from every county in Colorado. You can search it through the CBI Records Check portal for $6.00 per search. Enter the person's exact name and date of birth. Results appear on your screen right away.

A CBI search pulls arrest data from Adams County and every other county in the state. If someone was arrested in both Thornton and Denver, both records will appear in one report. The CBI only includes arrests backed by fingerprints. Sealed records and juvenile records do not show up. You can also do a $13.00 mail search through the CBI fees and forms page.

Thornton Arrest Records and Colorado Law

Colorado's CCJRA (C.R.S. 24-72-301 through 24-72-309) requires that arrest records be open for public inspection when they show official action. An arrest is official action. So are charges, pleas, and case outcomes. Adams County must release these Thornton arrest records when asked.

The Colorado Open Records Act covers other public records. Agencies must respond within three working days. There is a possible seven-day extension. The first hour of staff time is free. Copies cost $0.25 per page after that.

Records that have been sealed by court order will not appear in any search. Under C.R.S. 24-72-704, the CBI automatically seals arrest records when no charges are filed within one year of the arrest date. This applies to arrests on or after January 1, 2022. Juvenile arrest records for people 17 and under are restricted under C.R.S. 19-1-301.

Thornton Court Records

Thornton falls in the 17th Judicial District. Court records from arrests go through the Adams County courts. The Adams County Justice Center is at 1100 Judicial Center Drive, Brighton, CO 80601. County court handles misdemeanors. District court handles felonies. You can search the Colorado Judicial Branch website for case records by name or case number.

Court records show what happened after a Thornton arrest. They include charges filed, hearing dates, pleas, and sentences. For bulk data requests, email courtdatarequests@judicial.state.co.us.

Nearby Cities

These cities are near Thornton in the north Denver metro area.