Can You Clear a Criminal Record in Colorado?
A past arrest or conviction can follow you for years, showing up on background checks for jobs, housing, and more. Colorado law does provide paths to limit public access to certain criminal records, but the process depends heavily on the type of case and its outcome.
Sealing vs. expungement — they're not the same thing
These terms get used interchangeably, but in Colorado they refer to different legal processes:
- Sealing a record generally means the record is hidden from public view — for example, on background checks run by most employers or landlords — but it isn't destroyed and may still be accessible to certain government agencies and courts. Sealing is typically available for cases like arrests that didn't lead to charges, charges that were dismissed, or in some cases, completed deferred judgments and certain lower-level convictions after a waiting period.
- Expungement is a more limited and more permanent remedy in Colorado, generally reserved for specific circumstances such as juvenile records or cases resolved in the defendant's favor. [Attorney to confirm current eligibility categories and waiting periods, as these are periodically updated by the legislature.]
What kinds of records typically qualify
Eligibility depends on the offense, how the case was resolved, and how much time has passed. Records that are more commonly eligible for sealing include:
- Arrests that did not result in filed charges
- Charges that were dismissed
- Certain completed deferred judgments
- Some lower-level convictions after a waiting period with no further offenses
Many violent offenses, sex offenses, and DUI-related convictions are generally excluded or subject to additional restrictions.
Why it's worth asking, even if you're not sure
Many people assume their record can never be cleared and never look into it. Because eligibility rules are specific and technical, it's worth having an attorney review your case history rather than assuming the answer is no.
If you're in Weld County and want to find out whether your record may be eligible for sealing, contact our office for a case evaluation. Se habla español.
