Guide to Informal Case Screenings and No Files
This process is designed to assist law enforcement with questions about the legal sufficiency of evidence and legal thresholds to aid internal agency decisions. This is an informal discussion and not a formal file/no-file determination.
1. Purpose and Scope of Informal Screening
| Area of Discussion | Details |
|---|---|
| Goal | To assist law enforcement with investigative steps and legal requirements without requiring an affidavit alleging probable cause. |
| Legal Focus | Statutory Interpretations, filing and charging options, and further investigation techniques. |
| Limitation | The DA's Office cannot determine if you have probable cause (PC) for an arrest. |
Note on Formal vs. Informal
The DA's Office will discuss evidence, but this process shall not be used as an official "no-file" finding.
- DO NOT tell victims the DA will not take the case based on an informal discussion.
- DO NOT note in a police report that the DA is not filing the case.
- Formal no-file decisions require a formal filing process (see below).
2. Initiating an Informal Screening
Contacting the DA's Office
| Timeframe | Contact Details |
|---|---|
| Business Hours (8 a.m. - 5 p.m.) | Call (970) 498-7200 to reach the main office. |
| Setting up a Screening | Call (970) 498-7282 to schedule an appointment (phone, Zoom, or in-person) with a filing DA. |
| After-Hours | Call the on-call DA at (970) 214-5500. |
Scheduling and Preparation
Depending on the complexity of the issue:
- A DA may assist at the time of the initial call.
- A more in-depth screening may be scheduled, requiring you to upload reports, documents, and/or evidence into WebClient under the Filings Folder.
3. Requesting an Official Written No-File
If an officer requests an official written "no-file" after an informal screening, believing that PC still exists, a formal process must be followed:
| Required Action | Details |
|---|---|
| Submission | All reports, documents, and pertinent media must be uploaded into WebClient. The Process will be the same as the Felony Arrest Warrant (Standard Process) |
| Filing Form | A DA filing form must be submitted to initiate the formal review process. |
| Outcome | Only after this formal submission and review will an official written no-file be issued. |
