Colorado Record Sealing Laws: How to Seal Your Criminal Record (2026)
Colorado Record Sealing Laws: What "Expungement" Actually Means in Colorado
Colorado law seals adult criminal records rather than expunging them. Under C.R.S. §§ 24-72-701 through 24-72-711, a sealing order restricts public access to a record while leaving it accessible to law enforcement, courts, and certain licensing agencies. Senate Bill 22-099 (effective August 10, 2022) added automatic sealing for eligible convictions, meaning the court and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) can seal qualifying records without any action by the defendant.
Information last verified on May 29, 2026. This article has not yet been reviewed by a licensed attorney.
Jurisdiction scope: This article covers adult criminal record sealing and juvenile record expungement under Colorado law as of May 29, 2026. For the national framework and other states, see Expungement Laws by State.
Sealing vs. Expungement: Colorado Uses Different Words
When people search for "Colorado expungement," they are usually looking for a way to clear an adult criminal record. Colorado law uses the word sealing for that process. Under C.R.S. § 24-72-703, a sealing order restricts public access to criminal justice records but does not destroy them. Law enforcement agencies, courts, prosecutors, and certain professional licensing boards retain access to sealed records. True expungement, which treats a record as if it never existed, is reserved in Colorado for two narrower categories: juvenile delinquency records under C.R.S. § 19-1-306 and certain underage alcohol offense records. If you were arrested or convicted as an adult, sealing is the relief available to you. The practical effect is meaningful: once a record is sealed, it does not appear on most background checks, and Colorado law allows individuals to state in most contexts that the sealed arrest or conviction did not occur (C.R.S. § 24-72-709(4)).
Automatic Sealing Under SB 22-099 (C.R.S. § 24-72-706)
Senate Bill 22-099, signed into law and effective August 10, 2022, created a system of automatic record sealing for eligible convictions statewide. Under the automatic process, the state court administrator compiles lists of eligible records each quarter, district attorneys have 45 days to review and object, and courts enter sealing orders within 14 days after the objection window closes. The CBI then removes qualifying records from standard criminal background checks. No petition or court appearance is required from the defendant. The automatic process started with misdemeanor records on July 1, 2024, and expanded to eligible felony records on July 1, 2025. The waiting periods for automatic sealing are longer than those for petition-based sealing: 4 years for civil infractions, 7 years for misdemeanors and petty offenses, and 10 years for eligible felonies, measured from the later of final disposition or release from supervision. For a misdemeanor conviction entered in 2015 with no further supervision, automatic sealing would have become available in 2022, but the administrative processing began July 1, 2024. Defendants and their attorneys retain the right to access their own sealed records under C.R.S. § 24-72-709(1). You can check whether your record has been sealed using the Colorado Judicial Department's Sealed Case Search at coloradojudicial.gov.
Petition-Based Sealing: Waiting Periods by Offense Level
Even before the automatic process runs, defendants may file a petition to seal eligible records under C.R.S. § 24-72-706. Petition-based sealing has shorter waiting periods than automatic sealing. The waiting period runs from the later of the final disposition of all criminal proceedings or the defendant's release from supervision concerning the conviction. Current waiting periods by offense classification are: petty offenses and petty drug offenses, 1 year; class 2 and class 3 misdemeanors, drug misdemeanors, and level 4 drug felonies under C.R.S. § 18-18-403.5(2.5), 2 years; class 1 misdemeanors, class 4 through class 6 felonies, and level 3 and level 4 drug felonies (not under § 18-18-403.5(2.5)), 3 years; and all other eligible offenses, 5 years. One additional rule applies to petty offenses and marijuana possession convictions: those records must be sealed upon completion of the sentence if no subsequent conviction occurred, with no waiting period required. Unpaid restitution bars sealing of a conviction record, but unpaid fines and court fees cannot be used to deny sealing as of 2025 under C.R.S. § 24-72-703(12)(b).
Who Is Excluded: Offenses That Cannot Be Sealed
Colorado law permanently bars sealing for several offense categories. Adult records that cannot be sealed include convictions for crimes of violence as defined in C.R.S. § 18-1.3-406, which covers first-degree murder, kidnapping, sexual assault, aggravated robbery, and similar serious felonies. Sex offenses that require registration on the Colorado sex offender registry cannot be sealed. Felonies enumerated in the Victim Rights Act under C.R.S. § 24-4.1-302(1) are excluded, which includes crimes such as homicide, first-degree assault, and domestic violence felonies. DUI and DWAI convictions under C.R.S. § 42-4-1301 are not eligible for sealing. Child abuse convictions, extraordinary risk crimes, and crimes involving domestic violence are also excluded. For the automatic sealing process specifically, the Colorado Bar Association's Colorado Lawyer publication notes that the excluded categories additionally cover class 1, 2, and 3 felonies (except certain pre-October 2013 marijuana cultivation convictions), traffic offenses, and special offender drug crimes. An offense that falls outside these exclusions is generally eligible, but confirming eligibility against the full statutory list before filing a petition is advisable.
Non-Conviction Records: Dismissals and Acquittals
Records arising from a case that did not end in a conviction receive automatic sealing under a separate provision. Under C.R.S. § 24-72-705, the court must order records sealed without a petition when a case is completely dismissed, when the defendant is acquitted of all charges, when the defendant completes a diversion agreement prior to charges being filed, or when a deferred judgment is dismissed after successful completion. The sealing order must be entered within 28 days of the qualifying disposition. Because no conviction resulted, no waiting period applies. Diversion records are sealed by the district attorney without a court order upon completion, under the provisions SB 22-099 added to district attorney practice. If you were arrested and no charges were filed within the statute of limitations, your arrest record may also be eligible for sealing under C.R.S. § 24-72-704. For arrest records where charges were never filed, the CBI processes court-order sealings upon receipt of a valid order.
Juvenile Expungement Under C.R.S. § 19-1-306
Colorado uses the word expungement, not sealing, for juvenile delinquency records. Under C.R.S. § 19-1-306, expungement means the records are deemed never to have existed for most purposes. The court must enter a mandatory expungement order within 42 days of disposition for several categories: acquittals and dismissals; adjudications for petty offenses, class 3 and class 4 misdemeanors, and level 1 and level 2 drug misdemeanors (where no sex offense, domestic violence, or victim-notification obligation applies); and completed diversions and deferred adjudications. Petition-based expungement is available for other juvenile records after specified waiting periods. A juvenile who was adjudicated for a felony, misdemeanor, or delinquency action may petition after 36 months from unconditional release from sentence, provided no pending charges exist. Automatic expungement is not available for adjudications involving unlawful sexual behavior, aggravated juvenile offender status, or homicide offenses under C.R.S. § 18-3-101. Prosecutors and victims have 35 days to object; if an objection is filed, the court schedules a hearing. The juvenile expungement forms are JDF 301 through JDF 304, available through the Colorado Judicial Department.
How to File a Petition: Steps and Forms
The petition process for adult record sealing involves several steps. First, obtain a certified copy of your criminal history from the CBI or the court where the case was heard to confirm the offense, disposition date, and whether the waiting period has elapsed. Second, complete the applicable Judicial Department forms: JDF 611 (instructions for sealing conviction records), JDF 612 (motion to seal conviction records in county or district court), and JDF 615 (proposed order). For multiple cases, use JDF 641. Third, file the completed forms in the court where the case was originally filed. Court filing fees apply, though fee waivers are available for low-income petitioners. Fourth, the court notifies the prosecution. If the prosecution files an objection, the court schedules a hearing within 42 days. If no objection is filed at least 7 days before the scheduled hearing date, the court vacates the hearing and grants the sealing request. Fifth, after the judge signs the order, deliver a certified copy to the CBI. As of July 1, 2024, the CBI no longer charges a fee to process sealing orders. After CBI updates its records, the sealed case no longer appears on standard background checks. The Colorado Judicial Department's self-help page at coloradojudicial.gov/self-help/seal-my-case lists current forms and instructions.
Important: This article describes Colorado's record sealing laws as of May 29, 2026, based on C.R.S. §§ 24-72-701 through 24-72-711 and C.R.S. § 19-1-306. It is provided for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Eligibility depends on the specific facts of your case, including the offense classification, disposition date, and supervision end date. Laws change, and the provisions described above may have been amended after this date. Consult a licensed Colorado attorney before filing any petition or relying on this information to make decisions about your record.
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Sources
This article relies on primary Colorado statutes and official government publications. Key sources include C.R.S. §§ 24-72-701 through 24-72-711 and C.R.S. § 19-1-306 as published by the Colorado General Assembly; Senate Bill 22-099 (Chapter 276, 2022 Session Laws, effective August 10, 2022); House Bill 24-1133 (Chapter 384, 2024 Session Laws, effective July 1, 2025); the Colorado Judicial Department self-help page on record sealing; the Colorado Bar Association's Colorado Lawyer, "Automatic Record Sealing in Colorado"; and the Colorado Legislative Council Staff memorandum on sealing and expunging criminal records (2024).
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Last updated: May 29, 2026. Statutes cited reflect their in-force version as of May 29, 2026.