Arapahoe County, named after the Arapaho people who once lived in the region, is located in central Colorado and has its county seat in Littleton. Arapahoe County has a population of over 650,000 residents and spans approximately 805 square miles. Arapahoe County is home to Centennial Airport, one of the busiest general aviation airports in the United States.

Courts in Arapahoe County

The court system in Arapahoe County encompasses District Courts, County Courts, and Municipal Courts. The Arapahoe County District Courts oversee all criminal and civil cases in the county and usually presides over cases beyond the authority of the lower courts. The District Court hears felonies and general civil claims without financial limits. They handle domestic relations, probate, juvenile matters, and family law cases, including divorce and division of marital property.

The County Courts in Arapahoe County have limited authority over criminal and civil cases. They handle misdemeanors, petty offenses, and general civil claims for less than $15,000. The County Courts have a Small Claims Division for civil cases where the dispute value is less than $7,500. The Municipal Courts preside over violations of city and town ordinances.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Arapahoe County

Public court records are papers and documents maintained by the courts that are open to the public for inspection and copying. Access to trial court records from Arapahoe County is unavailable online except through third-party commercial sites. However, the county provides online access to Docket Searches. Copies of public court documents are available at the courthouse where the document was filed. Record seekers may view the records in person at the courthouses or mail requests for the document from the court clerk’s office.

Types of Public Court Records in Arapahoe County

Examining public court records empowers citizens to question or learn from the judicial process of the county. The following court documents are open for viewing and copying in Arapahoe County:

• Civil Court Records: Breach of contracts, restraining orders, trademark violations, boundary disputes, and landlord/tenant disputes
• Criminal Court Records: Felonies court records such as murder and drug trafficking. Court records from misdemeanors, including disorderly conduct, and vandalism.
• Probate Records: Wills, trusts, name change, guardianships, and conservatorships
• Family Law Records: Divorce records, annulment, alimony, and child custody and support
• Traffic Records: Traffic citations, including speeding tickets, illegal parking, and reckless driving

Confidential Court Records in Arapahoe County

Confidential court records in Arapahoe County are the documents and papers from legal proceedings maintained by the courthouses but inaccessible to the public. Public court records sealed by court orders, state laws, or federal statutes contain private or sensitive information where disclosure to the public may result in an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy. Confidential court documents exempted from public view in Arapahoe County include:

• Adoption and paternity records
• Trade secrets and proprietary information
• Medical and mental health records
• Juvenile court records
• Drug/alcohol treatment records

Likewise, personal identifiers such as Social Security numbers, financial account information, driver's license numbers, passport numbers, tax identification numbers, home and email addresses, and birthdate information in a public court record are excluded from public view. Personal identifying information contains confidential and personal information that could threaten the safety of the person named on the court record, making them susceptible to financial fraud or identity theft if disclosed to the public. The courts deem personal identifiers as confidential and redact them from court records.

Juvenile Delinquency in Arapahoe, CO

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Arapahoe County, juvenile delinquency crimes are on the rise. There are many reasons for the increase in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in Colorado often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of offenses, and other family matters.

In 2017, a total of 94 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Arapahoe County. Of that total, 1% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 1 court cases. Another 99% were dependency cases that accounted for 93 of the juvenile cases.

A lot of counties, including, Arapahoe County, are focusing on family health and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Arapahoe County juvenile delinquency statistics will show whether or not this approach is working.

Government of Arapahoe County, CO

https://www.colorado.gov/

County Seat:	Littleton
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Dillon's Rule
Year Organized:	1861
Total Square Miles:	805
2019 Population:	643,052
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00
County Contact:	5334 S Prince St County Administration Building Littleton , CO 80120-1136 http://www.co.arapahoe.co.us/

Arapahoe County, CO Courts