GOLDEN, Colo. (June 18, 2025) – The First Judicial District’s eighth Fresh Start warrant event, held on June 7 at the Jefferson County Administration and Courts Facility, cleared 99 low-level warrants and connected dozens of participants to community resources. The Fresh Start initiative provides individuals with an opportunity to resolve outstanding warrants without the fear of arrest, while also easing strain on the justice system by allowing law enforcement and court resources to focus on higher-risk cases. Powered by court staff, attorneys, and community partners who volunteer their time, the program continues to deliver relief to hundreds of individuals and measurable savings to taxpayers.
A total of 99 First Judicial District warrants were addressed during the event, with participants appearing both in person and virtually. For the second time, attendees in Jefferson County were also able to resolve eligible warrants from other participating judicial districts, which is a major step toward reducing barriers that previously kept individuals from participating. On June 7, coordinated events in Adams, Boulder, Broomfield, and Denver counties allowed participants to appear virtually and address warrants across jurisdictions. Notably, most of the 26 individuals deemed ineligible at the event had outstanding warrants in counties that did not participate.
The majority of warrants resolved were for Failure to Appear (67) and Failure to Comply (25). In total, 61 cases were closed, and 38 additional cases had warrants quashed and were set for new court dates.
While most eligible warrants are for non-violent misdemeanors or traffic cases, eligibility may extend to reclassified misdemeanors and some low-level felony drug and property offenses. Offenses under the Victim Rights Act, weapons offenses, and repeated driving under the influence cases remain ineligible.
These events are made possible through the collaborative efforts of the First Judicial District Attorney’s Office, the Colorado State Public Defender’s Office, the First Judicial District Courts, First Judicial District Probation Department, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Jefferson County Justice Services, and the Community Connections Center (C3).
The success of the June 7 event is due not only to the volunteers who staffed it, but also to the significant work done in advance. This included proactively identifying eligible participants and sending more than 480 text message reminders. Public defenders and the probation department also respond to numerous inquiries leading up to the event to help determine eligibility and ensure individuals are prepared to participate.
Community partners on site provided over 180 connections to community services, including substance use treatment, housing support, harm reduction services, and transportation assistance.
Since its launch in 2021, the First Judicial District’s Fresh Start events have cleared 674 warrants, made over 1,000 connections to community services, and saved taxpayers thousands of dollars – all without any arrests.
The next Fresh Start Warrant Event is scheduled for November 15, 2025. To check eligibility for probation violation cases, individuals should email 01probation@judicial.state.co.us, and for all other cases, email warrantforgiveness.golden@coloradodefenders.us. The event does not require an appointment to be made in advance.