Adams County is located in Colorado, and the City of Brighton serves as the county seat. It is the fifth-largest county in Colorado with more than 500,000 residents. The county has eight cities and two towns, including its largest city, Thornton.

Courts in Adams County

Adams County District Court is part of Colorado’s 17th Judicial District. The District Court is the trial court of general jurisdiction in the county. It hears felony criminal cases, divorces, juvenile matters, and civil cases where the monetary relief exceeds $15,000.

The County Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, and small claims in which the amount of the claims does not exceed $7,500. Civil cases in which the amounts in dispute do not exceed $25,000 are also heard at the County Court.

The Municipal Courts in Adams County have limited jurisdiction to handle the violations of city or municipal ordinances. These courts also deal with traffic infractions, zoning violations, animal control complaints, and petty offenses.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Adams County

Public court records in Adams County are primarily managed by the Clerk of the court where the case was filed. Access to trial court case documents and files is available online or at the Clerks’ offices. Copies of public court records in the county can also be obtained by requesting the needed records from the designated Clerk by mail or at their office location.

Types of Public Court Records in Adams County

Unless sealed, the following are types of public court records in Adams County that are available to anyone:

• Criminal Court Records - Including case files and details of criminal case proceedings, such as charges, sentences, and judgments
• Civil Court Records - Information on disputes heard in the civil courts, including personal injury claims, property damage, and breaches of contract
• Probate Court Records - Documents related to the administration of estates, wills, trusts, and other probate matters
• Small Claims Court Records - Information on minor civil disputes that involve claims up to $7,500
• Family Court Records - non-confidential details of family law matters concerning divorces, child custody, support, and other domestic relations cases

Confidential Court Records in Adams County

Confidential court records in Adams County refer to records exempt from public viewing. While some court records are regarded as confidential under Colorado laws, individuals may also petition the court to seal records related to them to protect their privacy or sensitive information. Unlike open court records, only individuals authorized by the court or the parties to the court case may access sealed records.

Some examples of confidential court records in Colorado are:

• Adoption records
• Juvenile records
• Records of mental health proceedings 
• Medical records
• Records containing the identity of sexual offense victims
• Records containing Social Security numbers

Juvenile Delinquency in Adams, CO

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

In 2017, a total of 574 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Adams County. Of that total, 82% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 471 court cases. Another 18% were dependency cases that accounted for 103 of the juvenile cases.

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

Government of Adams County, CO

https://www.colorado.gov/

County Seat:	Brighton
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Dillon's Rule
Year Organized:	1901
Total Square Miles:	1,184
2019 Population:	503,167
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00
County Contact:	4430 S Adams County Pkwy County Administration Building Brighton , CO 80601-8222 http://www.adcogov.org/

Adams County, CO Courts