Record Sealing & Expungement
By Attorney Charles E. Liken Jr., former Colorado Deputy District Attorney. Clear the record that follows you — Colorado’s automatic sealing and case-by-case petitions, in plain English.
Charles E. Liken Jr., Esq. — On the Legal Front Lines · Former Government Investigator, Denver Human Services · Licensed Colorado Attorney · 20+ Years in Private Practice · Former Colorado Deputy District Attorney · Colorado Court-Appointed Child and Family Investigator
An old case shouldn’t cost you the next job
Colorado now seals many eligible records automatically — dismissals, acquittals and completed diversions (C.R.S. § 24-72-705), arrests with no charges filed (C.R.S. § 24-72-704), and, on a rolling basis, many older drug and other eligible convictions (C.R.S. § 13-3-117) — but automation is slow and incomplete, and the biggest cases still need a petition. Once a record is sealed, private employers and landlords generally may not require you to disclose it, and you may answer that you have no public criminal record or have not been convicted. Sealing does not erase a conviction: courts, law enforcement, and agencies or licensing bodies that are required by law to check criminal history can still see and use sealed records, so some applications (for example law enforcement, bar admission, some professional licenses) still require careful, truthful answers.
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Eligibility is a moving target — check yours
The automatic-sealing rules and waiting periods change, and one ineligible charge on a case can block the whole thing. A quick review tells you what can come off, and when.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between sealing and expungement in Colorado?
In Colorado, adult criminal records are sealed, meaning hidden from the public and most background checks, while expungement is generally reserved for juvenile records and a few specific situations. In everyday terms both mean the case stops showing up — the right tool depends on your age at the time and the offense.
Does Colorado automatically seal old records?
For many eligible cases, yes. Colorado law directs the state to automatically seal many eligible records — dismissals, acquittals and completed diversions (C.R.S. § 24-72-705), arrests with no charges filed (§ 24-72-704) and, on a rolling basis, many older eligible convictions (C.R.S. § 13-3-117). But automation is slow and misses cases, and the most valuable records often still need a petition — so it is worth confirming whether yours qualified and actually got sealed.
How long do I have to wait to seal a conviction?
It depends on the level of offense. After your offense-free waiting period runs — one to five years depending on the conviction — you can petition to seal under C.R.S. § 24-72-706. Cases that ended in dismissal or acquittal can often be sealed on a faster track.
What can I say once my record is sealed?
Once a record is sealed, private employers and landlords generally may not require you to disclose it, and you may answer that you have no public criminal record. Sealing does not erase a conviction, though: courts, law enforcement, and agencies required by law to check criminal history can still see sealed records, so some applications still call for careful, truthful answers. The firm will tell you how to answer for your situation.
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