La Plata County Criminal Records
What Is La Plata County Criminal Records
Criminal records in La Plata County are official government documents that chronicle an individual's interactions with the criminal justice system, from initial law enforcement contact through final court disposition. These records are maintained by multiple agencies operating at the local, county, and state levels and serve as the authoritative source of information for background checks, legal proceedings, and public safety purposes.
Arrest records document the circumstances under which a person was taken into custody, including the date, arresting agency, and charges alleged at the time of booking. Conviction records, by contrast, reflect the formal outcome of criminal proceedings and carry legal weight for purposes such as sentencing enhancements and civil rights restrictions. Under Colorado law, an arrest without a subsequent conviction does not constitute proof of criminal conduct.
Criminal records in La Plata County are further distinguished by offense classification:
- Felonies are the most serious offenses (Classes 1–6 and unclassified), carrying potential state prison sentences exceeding one year.
- Misdemeanors (Classes 1–3 and unclassified) are less severe offenses typically adjudicated at the county court level with sentences served locally.
- Petty offenses and traffic infractions occupy the lowest tier and may appear in court case records but are generally not included in standard criminal history reports.
Juvenile records are treated with heightened confidentiality under § 19-1-304 of the Colorado Revised Statutes, which restricts public access to records involving individuals under 18 years of age. Many juvenile adjudications are eligible for sealing upon the subject's request. Active warrants represent current judicial orders for arrest and are maintained as open records, whereas historical warrant records may be incorporated into a subject's broader criminal history file.
The principal agencies maintaining criminal records in La Plata County include:
- La Plata County Sheriff's Office — maintains arrest records, booking logs, jail rosters, and inmate records
- La Plata County District Court and County Court — maintains case filings, arraignment records, pleas, trial transcripts, sentencing orders, and probation records
- Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) — maintains the statewide criminal history repository, including fingerprint-based records
- Durango Police Department — maintains arrest and incident reports originating within Durango city limits
Court case records encompass the full lifecycle of a criminal proceeding: charges filed, arraignment dates, entered pleas, trial outcomes, sentencing details, conditions of probation or parole, and any subsequent appeals. Members of the public seeking court-specific records may reference the La Plata County Courthouse page maintained by the Colorado Judicial Branch.
La Plata County Sheriff's Office 742 Turner Drive, Durango, CO 81303 (970) 382-7700 La Plata County Sheriff's Office
La Plata County District Court 1060 East Second Avenue, Suite 106, Durango, CO 81301 (970) 382-6300 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Colorado Judicial Branch – La Plata County
Colorado Bureau of Investigation 690 Kipling Street, Suite 3000, Denver, CO 80215 (303) 239-4300 Colorado Bureau of Investigation
Are Criminal Records Public In La Plata County
Adult criminal records in La Plata County are presumptively open to the public under Colorado's open records framework. The Colorado Criminal Justice Records Act, codified at § 24-72-301 et seq. of the Colorado Revised Statutes, governs access to criminal justice records held by law enforcement agencies and courts throughout the state. Under this statute, criminal justice records are defined broadly to include arrest records, conviction records, and related documentation generated in the course of criminal proceedings.
Key provisions of the Act establish the following:
- Adult conviction records are fully accessible to the public and may be inspected during regular business hours without a stated purpose or formal application.
- Court proceedings — including docket entries, case filings, and sentencing orders — are open records under both the Criminal Justice Records Act and the Colorado Open Records Act (CORA), § 24-72-201.
- Ongoing investigations are exempt from mandatory disclosure when release would impede law enforcement operations or compromise the safety of individuals involved.
- Sealed records — including those sealed pursuant to court order or by operation of law following acquittal or dismissal — are not accessible to the general public and may not be disclosed by custodial agencies.
- Juvenile adjudication records are restricted under § 19-1-304 and are not treated as public records absent a specific court order authorizing disclosure.
Custodial agencies retain discretion to withhold records when disclosure would pose a clear danger to an individual's safety, reveal confidential informant identities, or interfere with pending prosecutions.
How To Look Up Criminal Records In La Plata County in 2026
Members of the public may obtain La Plata County criminal records through several official channels, depending on the type of record sought and the level of detail required.
Step 1 — Identify the appropriate custodial agency. Court case records are held by the La Plata County District Court or County Court. Arrest and booking records are maintained by the La Plata County Sheriff's Office or the Durango Police Department. Statewide criminal history reports are available through the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.
Step 2 — Submit a records request to the court. Individuals seeking case-specific court records may complete the official Record/Document Request Form available through the Colorado Judicial Branch. Completed forms may be submitted in person at the courthouse clerk's office or by mail.
Step 3 — Request arrest or booking records from law enforcement. Written public records requests directed to the La Plata County Sheriff's Office must identify the subject by full legal name and, where possible, date of birth. Requests may be submitted in person, by mail, or via the agency's designated records request process.
Step 4 — Obtain a statewide criminal history report through CBI. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation processes name-based and fingerprint-based criminal history requests. Fingerprint-based searches provide the most comprehensive and accurate results and are required for certain employment and licensing purposes. Applicable fees are established by CBI and are subject to change.
Step 5 — Pay applicable fees. Custodial agencies may charge reasonable fees for the reproduction of records. Inspection of records in person is generally available at no charge under Colorado law.
Step 6 — Allow processing time. In-person requests at the courthouse clerk's office are typically processed same-day for available records. Mailed requests and CBI background checks may require additional processing time.
How To Find Criminal Records in La Plata County Online?
Several official online portals currently provide access to La Plata County criminal and court records without requiring an in-person visit.
Colorado Judicial Branch – Docket Search The Colorado Judicial Branch maintains a statewide Docket Search tool that allows members of the public to locate case information by party name, case number, attorney, or filing date. The portal covers both district court and county court cases filed in La Plata County and displays:
- Case numbers and filing dates
- Party names and roles (defendant, plaintiff, etc.)
- Charge descriptions and statute citations
- Scheduled hearing dates and past docket entries
- Case status and disposition information
No registration or account creation is required to perform a basic docket search. However, access to certain sealed or restricted case types is not available through the public portal.
La Plata County Sheriff's Office – Inmate Search The Sheriff's Office provides an online inmate roster reflecting individuals currently held at the La Plata County Detention Center. The roster is updated regularly and includes booking date, charges, and bond information for current detainees. Historical booking records are not available through the online portal and must be requested directly from the agency.
Colorado Bureau of Investigation – Online Background Checks The CBI offers a name-based online background check service through its official website. This service returns conviction records maintained in the statewide repository and is available to the general public for a fee. Fingerprint-based checks, which provide more comprehensive results, must be initiated through an authorized fingerprint service provider.
Records involving sealed cases, juvenile adjudications, and expunged matters do not appear in any public online portal, consistent with applicable state law.
Can You Search La Plata County Criminal Records for Free?
Colorado law provides that members of the public are entitled to inspect public criminal justice records at no charge during the regular business hours of the custodial agency. This right of inspection is established under § 24-72-203 of the Colorado Revised Statutes, which prohibits agencies from charging fees solely for the act of reviewing records in person. Fees may, however, be assessed for the reproduction or certification of copies.
The following resources are currently available at no cost:
- Colorado Judicial Branch Docket Search — Free public access to case docket information for La Plata County court proceedings, available at the Docket Search portal
- In-person record inspection at the La Plata County District Court — Members of the public may review non-restricted case files at the clerk's office during public counter hours (Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.) without charge
- La Plata County Sheriff's Office inmate roster — Current jail population data is available online at no cost
- Durango Police Department public records — Incident reports and arrest logs may be inspected in person at no charge
Fees apply to printed copies, certified copies, and statewide criminal history reports obtained through CBI. The cost of copies is set by each agency and is subject to periodic revision.
What's Included in a La Plata County Criminal Record?
A complete criminal record maintained by La Plata County agencies and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation typically contains the following categories of information.
Identifying Information
- Full legal name and known aliases
- Date of birth and place of birth
- Physical description (height, weight, eye color, hair color)
- Booking photograph (mugshot)
- Last known address
- State Identification Number (SID) assigned by CBI
- FBI Number (where applicable, for federally processed records)
Arrest Information
- Date, time, and location of arrest
- Arresting agency and officer identification
- Booking number and detention facility
- Charges alleged at the time of arrest
- Bail or bond amount set and conditions imposed
- Jail facility and booking date
Court Case Information
- Case number and assigned court (District Court or County Court)
- Jurisdiction and filing date
- Charges as formally filed, including statute citations and offense class (felony or misdemeanor)
- Plea entered (guilty, not guilty, no contest, Alford plea)
- Attorney of record and prosecuting agency
- Scheduled and completed hearing dates
Disposition Information
- Verdict (guilty, not guilty, dismissed, deferred judgment)
- Conviction date and sentencing date
- Sentence type and length (incarceration, probation, community service)
- Fines, court costs, and restitution ordered
- Conditions of probation or parole supervision
- Appeals filed and outcomes
Additional Record Elements
- Active or recalled arrest warrants
- Protective or restraining orders
- Sex offender registration status (pursuant to Colorado's Sex Offender Registration Act)
- DUI/DWAI convictions and related license actions
- Traffic violations adjudicated in county court
- Pending charges and open case status
How Long Does La Plata County Keep Criminal Records?
Criminal records in La Plata County are subject to retention schedules established under Colorado law and applicable state archival standards. The Colorado State Archives and the Colorado Judicial Branch each publish retention schedules governing how long specific record types must be preserved before destruction or transfer is authorized.
Current retention periods for principal record categories include:
- Felony conviction records — Retained permanently by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and the District Court; no destruction is authorized for records of Class 1–3 felony convictions
- Misdemeanor conviction records — Retained for a minimum of seven (7) years following the completion of sentence, including any probation or parole period
- Arrest records without conviction — Retained for a minimum of three (3) years; eligible for sealing upon petition under Colorado's record sealing statutes
- Juvenile adjudication records — Retained until the subject reaches age 28, at which point sealed records may be destroyed pursuant to court order
- Court case files (general) — District court criminal case files are retained for a minimum of ten (10) years following final disposition; county court criminal files are retained for a minimum of seven (7) years
- Booking and jail records — Retained by the Sheriff's Office for a minimum of seven (7) years following release from custody
The Colorado Judicial Branch's retention policies are established in coordination with the Colorado State Archives pursuant to § 24-80-101 of the Colorado Revised Statutes, which governs the preservation and disposition of public records statewide. Records subject to active litigation, appeals, or pending sealing petitions are exempt from routine destruction schedules until all proceedings are concluded.