El Paso County Colorado Criminal Court Procedures and Law Enforcement Authority
The El Paso County criminal court is the sole authority that can issue a detention warrant. Yet, police officers have the right to arrest individuals on suspicion if they believe a crime is imminent. Law enforcement officials can also stop and search a person on the streets if suspected of carrying illegal substances or firearms. Outside these circumstances, or unless an officer witnesses a crime, an arrest warrant is required for custody.
To obtain an arrest warrant, the District Attorney’s office and the Sheriff’s Department submit a written affidavit to the court, providing critical details about the crime, the suspect, and supporting evidence. This information’s adequacy is essential for warrant issuance. Upon satisfaction, the magistrate signs the document, making it an active arrest warrant.
When an active warrant is unused due to the suspect being unaware or absconding, it becomes an outstanding arrest warrant, stored in the national arrest records database. Both active and outstanding warrants authorize arrests, with felony warrants having no expiration and permitting nationwide enforcement, while misdemeanor warrants are typically enforced within the issuing county.
For warrant searches in El Paso County, the most reliable source is the local Sheriff’s Department, located at: 210 South Tejon Street, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80903-2280.
El Paso County Colorado Contact Information
- Recent Arrests: 719-390-2151
- Inmate Records: 719-390-2000
- Arrest Warrants: 719-452-5000, option 6
- Criminal Matters: 719-520-7233
- Arrest Records & Police Reports: 719-520-7177
- Crime-Related Inquiries: 719-520-7100 / 719-390-5555
- Victim Assistance: 719-520-6036
- Criminal Court Records: 719-452-5000
Crime Statistics in El Paso County Colorado
In 2019, the El Paso Sheriff’s Office reported 171 criminal complaints, down from 219 in 2018. These included:
- 125 property offenses
- 46 violent offenses
Specific crimes recorded:
- 73 larceny thefts
- 38 burglaries
- 14 auto thefts
- 32 aggravated assaults
- 13 rapes
- 1 robbery
From 1999 to 2008, over 222,000 crimes were reported, averaging nearly 22,000 incidents annually. Of these, robbery and theft cases dominated at approximately 17,000, while murder and sexual assault reported around 200 and 3,000 incidents, respectively.
El Paso County saw an increase in criminal activity by nearly 50% between 1999 and 2008. If this trend continues, the crime rate could exceed 25,000 incidents annually. Currently, around 48 criminal reports are filed daily, equating to one incident every 30 minutes.