Record sealing is a legal process that allows certain criminal records to be hidden from public view. When a record is sealed in Colorado, it does not disappear, but it is no longer visible to most employers, landlords, and background check services. The courts and law enforcement can still access the information, but for most practical purposes, it’s as though the record is off-limits to the general public.

Why Record Sealing Matters

Even a single conviction can follow you for years. Employers run background checks. Landlords Google you. Licensing boards ask about your history. One mistake in your past can quietly keep costing you money, housing, opportunities, and peace of mind.

Colorado has recognized that problem. Over the last several years, the Legislature has passed a series of reforms that make it easier for people to seal certain criminal records so they are no longer publicly available. The main laws governing this process are found at C.R.S. § 24-72-701 through § 24-72-710, with the core statute for sealing convictions being C.R.S. § 24-72-706.

In plain English: if you qualify, you can ask a judge to seal the record of an old conviction so it does not keep dragging you down forever.

What Does “Sealing” Actually Do?

Sealing a record means the public can no longer access it. That includes most employers, most landlords, and most members of the general public. The court and law enforcement can still see it, and the conviction does not disappear from history, it does not “vacate” or erase the conviction.

But for most practical day-to-day purposes, sealing is powerful. If your record is sealed, you can generally lawfully state that you have not been convicted of that offense (with some exceptions in sensitive areas like law enforcement or certain professional licensing).

Put simply: sealing gives you breathing room to move forward.

Who Can Seal a Conviction in Colorado?

Under C.R.S. § 24-72-706, many, but not all, convictions can be sealed if certain conditions are met.

In most cases, you have to show:

1. Enough time has passed since the “final disposition” of the case or since you finished probation/parole/supervision.
2. You have not picked up new criminal convictions in the meantime.
3. You have paid all restitution, fines, court costs, and fees in that case, unless the court has already vacated those obligations.
4. The offense is not in one of the excluded categories (more on this below).

The waiting period and the exact procedure depend on the level of the offense. For example, petty offenses and certain low-level drug offenses often qualify for relatively quick sealing if you’ve stayed out of trouble since the case closed. For misdemeanors and felonies, you generally have to file a petition and sometimes attend a hearing where the prosecutor can object and the judge weighs several factors — including public safety and whether keeping the record public is still necessary.

This is very different from how things used to work. Colorado used to make sealing a conviction extremely difficult. Today, the law is much more permissive, especially for lower-level offenses and older cases, because the Legislature has decided that permanent punishment for past conduct does not serve the public interest in most cases.

Which Convictions Cannot Be Sealed?

Some offenses are either not eligible at all, or they’re harder to seal

Colorado’s Victim Rights Act (VRA) identifies certain serious offenses, for example, many violent crimes, and those are generally excluded from automatic or routine sealing. Those offenses are listed in C.R.S. § 24-4.1-302(1). If your conviction is on that list, you are usually not eligible to seal unless the district attorney agrees or the court makes specific findings that (1) your need for sealing is substantial, (2) you are no longer a threat to public safety, and (3) keeping the record public is no longer necessary. C.R.S. § 24-72-706(2).

Practically, that means sealing a serious violent conviction is not impossible, but it is not easy. You should expect a contested hearing and you should expect the prosecutor to have a voice in that decision.

Also, if you still owe restitution or court-ordered fees in that specific case, the court will not seal the record unless those amounts have been paid or the order has been vacated.

How the Process Works

Here’s the typical roadmap for sealing a conviction in Colorado under § 24-72-706:

1. Identify eligibility.
   We review your case, conviction level, the date the case ended, your criminal history since then, and whether the offense is excluded.
2. Prepare the petition.
   You file a motion (petition) in the same court where you were convicted. The motion must generally include:
   • Case number and conviction details
   • A list of every agency/custodian that has your records (court, police, sheriff, Colorado Bureau of Investigation, etc.)
   • A recent copy of your criminal history

Under current law, there is usually a $65 processing fee to file, but the court can waive that fee if you’re indigent or in certain other situations.

3. Notice to the prosecutor.
   In many cases (especially for misdemeanors and felonies) the district attorney gets a chance to object. If they object, the judge will set a hearing.
4. The court’s review.
   The judge looks at factors like:
   • How long it’s been since the conviction
   • Your conduct since then
   • Whether you pose a public safety risk
   • Whether keeping the record public still serves a legitimate purpose
   • The harm you’re experiencing because this record is still public

The judge can deny the petition on the paperwork alone if it’s clearly not eligible, or can grant it without a hearing if it’s clearly eligible.

5. If the court grants sealing.
   The court issues an order directing all the listed agencies to seal the record. After that, the public should no longer be able to find that conviction through normal background checks.

How This Helps You in Real Life

My clients usually care about sealing for three reasons:

• Employment. Many private employers run background checks. A sealed record often will not show up, which means you don’t lose interviews before you can even explain your story.
• Housing. Landlords and property managers routinely deny applicants based on older convictions. Sealing can remove that automatic strike.
• Licensing and reputation. Nurses, truck drivers, teachers, security guards, real estate agents — many jobs require state licensing or ongoing good character. A sealed record can prevent an old conviction from resurfacing every time you renew or apply.

We’ve seen people who made a single mistake in their twenties and are still being denied housing in their forties. Sealing is exactly for these kinds of situations.

Why Working With an Attorney Helps

On paper, sealing sounds simple: file a petition, pay a fee, get an order. In reality, it’s procedural and deadlines matter. You need to (1) correctly identify every agency that has your record so the sealing order actually works, and (2) present your story in a way that shows the court you’re not a public safety risk and that keeping the conviction public no longer serves a purpose.

For more serious convictions, or any case where the district attorney is likely to object, the hearing can feel like a mini-sentencing all over again. You want someone in that room who has tried serious cases, who understands how prosecutors argue risk, and who can answer the judge’s questions in real time. We have tried more than 95 jury trials in Colorado courts and bring that courtroom experience into every record sealing petition we handle.

Can We Help You Seal Your Record?

Weatherly McConnell, LLC represents clients statewide in post-conviction matters, including record sealing. We also handle federal and serious state criminal defense and complex civil rights litigation.

If you’re wondering whether your Colorado conviction can be sealed under C.R.S. § 24-72-706, or you’ve been denied housing or work because of something that happened years ago, we want to hear from you.