PUBLIC SAFETY, COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF

What PUBLIC SAFETY, COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF does

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is a state-level law enforcement support agency established in 1967, operating under the Colorado Department of Public Safety and headquartered at 690 Kipling Street, Suite 3000, Lakewood, Colorado, with a regional office in Grand Junction. With more than 330 members, CBI delivers investigative, forensic, and criminal justice data services to local, county, and state agencies across Colorado, operating primarily as a "by request" agency that assists with complex cases such as homicides, cyber crimes, human trafficking, and organized crime. Its product surface comprises six core service lines — Records and Background Checks, Criminal Justice Information Services (CCIC and UCR), Firearms InstaCheck (background checks, concealed handgun permits, prohibitor screening), Forensic Services (DNA database, toxicology, sexual assault evidence testing, crime scene investigation), Investigations Unit (major crimes, fugitives, missing persons, cold cases, economic crimes), and the Sex Offender Registry — supplemented by the Internet Criminal History Check portal, the Forensic Advantage Web Services Portal for online case submissions, and seven CBI Alert Programs.

CBI runs on a portfolio of government-built information systems, including the Colorado Crime Information Center (CCIC), the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program, a statewide DNA database, the Sex Offender Registry, and the InstaCheck firearm background check system. These platforms aggregate multi-decade state records and serve as the operational backbone for partner agencies, with security, vendor management, and access governance handled centrally. The technology footprint is characterized by integration and interoperability rather than novel commercial software; interoperability with county and local agencies is the primary design constraint.

Name

PUBLIC SAFETY, COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF

Legal name

Colorado Bureau of Investigation

Website

https://cbi.state.co.us

Company type

Public

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is a 1967-founded Colorado state agency under the Department of Public Safety that delivers investigative, forensic, and criminal justice data services to local, county, and state law enforcement agencies across Colorado.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Safety and Law Enforcement Services

NAICS

Justice, Public Order, and Safety Activities (9221), Other Justice, Public Order, and Safety Activities (922190), Investigation and Personal Background Check Services (561611)

SIC

Services-Detective, Guard & Armored Car Services (7381)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAIAGAI

Criminal Investigations & Forensics (Detectives, Crime Labs, CSI)

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Law Enforcement & Public Safety (Police, Fire, EMS)

Keywords

• Law enforcement investigations
• Forensic science services
• Criminal justice information
• Background check services
• Public safety operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Lakewood

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government Appropriations: CBI is a state government agency funded primarily through Colorado state government appropriations and departmental budgets

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI), established in 1967, provides investigative, forensic, and criminal justice data services to support local, county, and state agencies across Colorado. With more than 330 members, CBI delivers expertise in criminal investigations (homicides, cyber crimes, human trafficking, organized crime), forensic science (DNA analysis, toxicology, crime scene investigation), and records management (criminal history records, background checks, Sex Offender Registry). Operating as a 'by request' agency, CBI also manages statewide information systems including the Colorado Crime Information Center (CCIC), Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR), and the Firearms InstaCheck system.

Product overview

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation operates as a unified platform of law enforcement services comprising multiple interconnected divisions. The core offerings include: Records and Background Checks (criminal history searches, employment screening, pardons); Criminal Justice Information Services (CCIC database, UCR crime statistics); Firearms InstaCheck (background checks, concealed carry permits); Forensic Services (DNA analysis, toxicology, evidence testing); Investigations Unit (major crimes, fugitives, missing persons, cold cases); and the Sex Offender Registry. Sub-products include the Internet Criminal History Check portal for online background screening and the Forensic Advantage Web Services Portal for evidence submission. These services work together to support local, county, and state agencies across Colorado's criminal justice ecosystem.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Records and Background Checks Provides background check services including criminal history searches, employment background checks, identity theft assistance, record updates and sealing, and pardon processing for marijuana and natural medicine. Serves law enforcement agencies, employers, and the general public.
• Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Provides access to Colorado Crime Information Center (CCIC) resources, Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program, crime statistics, and security guidance for criminal justice agencies. Designed for criminal justice agencies statewide.
• Firearms InstaCheck Manages firearm background checks, concealed handgun permits (CHP) and reciprocity, federal firearm licensee requirements, state and federal prohibitor checks, and firearm legislation compliance. Serves firearm purchasers, federal firearm licensees, and law enforcement.
• Forensic Services Provides forensic analysis including DNA database management, toxicology testing, sexual assault evidence testing, crime scene investigation, and forensic training programs. Serves local, county, and state law enforcement agencies.
• Investigations Unit Handles major crimes investigations, fugitive operations, cold cases, missing persons, economic crimes, human trafficking, crime scene investigation, and sex offender fugitive tracking. Operates as a by-request service for local, county, and state agencies.
• Sex Offender Registry Manages statewide sex offender registration, provides sex offender registry information to the public, and offers training for law enforcement on sex offender registration procedures.
• Internet Criminal History Check (ICHC) Provides online access to criminal history checks for authorized employers and organizations conducting background screening.
• Forensic Advantage Web Services Portal Web-based portal for forensic service submissions, allowing law enforcement agencies to submit evidence and track case progress online.
• CBI Alert Programs Emergency notification system providing Amber Alerts, Missing Senior Citizen Alerts, Missing Persons with Developmental Disabilities Alerts, Blue Alerts, Medina Alerts, Endangered Missing/Media Alerts, and Missing Indigenous Person Alerts.

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• 10th Judicial District Attorney's OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2026Joint investigation partnership with 10th Judicial District Attorney's Office on the Davis Mortuary criminal case. CBI and the DA's office jointly announced charges and arrests for Brian Lee Cotter and Christopher Aaron Cotter following a lengthy and complex investigation into mortuary operations. Both agencies coordinated on evidence gathering, prosecution preparation, and public announcements.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• NMS Labs: NMS Labs is a private forensic toxicology and drug testing laboratory serving law enforcement agencies across the U.S. It overlaps with CBI's Forensic Services Division (toxicology, DNA, evidence testing) but operates as a commercial reference lab rather than a state bureau.
• LexisNexis Risk Solutions: LexisNexis Risk Solutions provides background screening, public records, and identity verification services comparable to CBI's Internet Criminal History Check (ICHC) and Records & Background Checks product line, but at a national commercial scale rather than a single-state scope.

Emerging players

• Kroll: Kroll is a private-sector investigations, risk consulting, and cyber crime response firm that overlaps with CBI's major crimes, fraud, and cyber investigation functions for private clients. It represents the commercial analog of CBI's investigative services.

Direct peers

• New York State Police - Bureau of Criminal Investigation: New York State Police's Bureau of Criminal Investigation handles major crimes, forensic services, and criminal intelligence across New York state. It shares CBI's role of providing specialized investigative capacity to local agencies upon request.
• California Department of Justice - Bureau of Investigation: The California DOJ Bureau of Investigation handles major criminal investigations, provides forensic services, and maintains statewide criminal records and firearms background checks. It mirrors CBI's mission across California with a similar service portfolio and statutory mandate.
• Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE): FDLE provides statewide law enforcement support including criminal investigations, forensic laboratory services, criminal history records, and firearms background checks — a near-identical service portfolio to CBI but serving Florida. It is one of the most direct structural peers.
• Texas Department of Public Safety - Texas Rangers: The Texas Rangers Division within the Texas DPS serves as the state's primary investigative bureau, handling major crimes, cold cases, and specialized investigations across Texas. It is directly comparable to CBI in mandate, structure, and service mix (investigations, forensics, criminal records), making it the closest state-level peer.
• Pennsylvania State Police: Pennsylvania State Police operates a Bureau of Criminal Investigation providing forensic laboratory services, major crimes investigation, and firearms background checks — parallel to CBI's offerings across Pennsylvania.

Regional players

• Oregon State Police - Criminal Investigations Division: Oregon State Police provides criminal investigation, forensic lab services, and criminal records management similar to CBI but operating in a neighboring Pacific Northwest jurisdiction rather than competing in Colorado.

Broad incumbents

• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI): The FBI is the federal counterpart to state bureaus of investigation, providing nationwide criminal investigation, forensic science, fingerprint identification (CJIS), and laboratory services. It is comparable to CBI as the most prominent U.S. investigative agency performing the same core functions (major crimes, forensics, criminal history) but at a national scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/public-safety-colorado-department-of

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about PUBLIC SAFETY, COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF