TCSO Records Release Terms of Service
Introduction
It is the policy of the Teller County Sheriff’s Office to be approachable and amicable to media requests as well as transparent in respect to open records requests under the Colorado Open Records Act (CORA), C.R.S. § 24-72-201 et seq. This document will serve as our policy on fulfilling these requests and hopefully answer any questions related to the production of records from our agency under Colorado law.
Not every record or piece of information the Teller County Sheriff Office possesses is considered a “public record” under CORA. There are some exceptions, including but not limited to Criminal Justice Records (CJR).
The Teller County Sheriff’s Office is only authorized to release records of which we are the custodian. For example, we cannot release traffic accident reports which belong to the Colorado State Patrol, autopsy reports which belong to the Teller County Coroner’s Office, or which belong to other law enforcement agencies with which we have signed agreements, such as local, state, and federal partners.
Additionally, there may be records that cannot be released or that we release with sections of redacted, or “blacked out,” information. If you see these blacked out areas, it is because the law forbids us to release certain personal identifying information contained in portions of those records under § 6-1-713(2)(b), § 6-1-716(1)(a), and § 18-5-701(3) of Colorado Revised Statutes (C.R.S.).[i]
How do I make a CORA request?
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You can print this form, fill it out and send it via US Mail to:
Teller County Sheriff Records Department
Attn: CORA Request
PO Box 27
Divide, CO 80814
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You can print the form, fill it out and fax to 719-687-1202.
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You can print this form, scan and email it to tcsocaserecords@co.teller.co.us.
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Alternatively, you can go to this page of our website to fill out and submit an online form.
Only written requests for CORA information will be accepted. No requests made via social media, voicemail, or verbally will be considered.
How long does a CORA request usually take?
CORA sets the time periods that regulate how all Colorado agencies respond to open records requests as embodied in C.R.S. § 24-72-203(3)(b). In compliance with this law, the Teller County Sheriff’s Office will make every effort to respond to the requester within three working days. The three-day time period begins on the next working day following receipt of a completed request via e-mail, fax, letter, or website form. If a request is received after 4:30 pm on such a working day, on a weekend or Teller County recognized holiday, it will be considered received on the next working day.
We may need to extend the three-day request period by an additional seven days as a “working-day” extension, as allowed in C.R.S. 24-72-203(3)(b). As required by law, the Teller County Sheriff’s Office will notify the requester in writing if this is necessary.
If the request is overly broad or general, the timeline for the completion of the request may be put on hold until the Sheriff’s Office and the requester are able to clarify or narrow the request.
The time between the requester being provided the cost of the records and the requester approving the cost estimate for the research does not count against the Teller County Sheriff’s Office under the CORA statute.
How much does a CORA request cost?
C.R.S. 24-72-205(6)(b) authorizes the Teller County Sheriff’s Office and all governmental agencies to charge for the research, redaction, locating, and producing the requested information. As of October 15, 2019, all requests will be charged at the state-authorized rate of $33.58 per hour. The requester will only be charged this rate after the first hour of researching the request. If the request will likely exceed one hour and incur the charge, the Teller County Sheriff’s Office will notify the requester prior to continuing work.
Advance payment will be required for all CORA requests and our agency will not produce the records until full payment is received.
How do I prevent my request from experiencing delays?
When you write your request, please make sure that what you are asking for is clearly specified with as much detail as possible, i.e. dates, times, addresses, persons involved, and case number (if known). If your request is overly broad, not clear, or is asking for a voluminous amount of information, it may delay processing.
Requests for information must be specific as to the information requested.
Who handles my request?
Responses to CORA requests will be coordinated by the Records Technician, the Teller County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer or designee.
If you need assistance in making a request, please call 719-687-9652 and follow the prompts for the Records Department.
[i] "Personal identifying information" means a social security number; a personal identification number; a password; a pass code; an official state or government-issued driver's license or identification card number; a government passport number; bio-metric data, as defined in section 6-1-716(1)(a); an employer, student, or military identification number; or a financial transaction device, as defined in section 18-5-701(3).