Colorado Record Sealing Attorney

Talk to a Colorado record sealing attorney about having your arrest or conviction records sealed.

If a clean college application or employment background is important to you and a documented prior brush with the law has put that goal at risk due to criminal history, you should meet with a Colorado record sealing attorney at the Law Offices of J.B. Katz, P.C. to determine your eligibility and next steps.

As a Colorado record sealing attorney, I have worked hard to achieve new leases on life for many of my Colorado criminal defense and DUI clients within the criminal justice system.

If a record sealing of a previous criminal charge, arrest records, or conviction records is appropriate and permitted under the Colorado Revised Statutes, I can actively pursue it for you and give you proper legal assistance.

If such a sealing is successful and a charge or conviction no longer appears on your record, you will be within your legal rights to legally deny that a particular arrest existed, and law enforcement will be required to admit that there is no record for public view or access. Sealed records or an expungement could be your next step toward restoring your reputation after past mistakes and reclaiming your life with a brighter future.

Eligibility Requirements for Criminal Records Sealing: New Law Might Prove Beneficial For Your Case

You may have tried previously to have your arrest or criminal conviction removed from your record after criminal proceedings in district court or before a district attorney. Under prior Colorado laws, few individuals actually qualified to have their records sealed, especially for violent crimes, certain sexual offenses, and certain other more serious offenses. They found frustration when they tried to reverse the negative impact that arrests and convictions for certain crimes had on their life, including employment, when employers run background checks.

Recently, a new law has gone into effect that will allow many more individuals the opportunity to gain a fresh start. I can explain how this law will apply to your case and discuss the legal process to either have your record sealed or expunged by request or formal petition. Your options will vary depending on your individual circumstances. Even if you have been rejected before, you may now be eligible to have your case removed from your record. You owe it to yourself and your family to put the past behind you. A sealed case can truly provide a new lease on life.

It’s also important to know that having your record sealed and having it expunged are two different issues. You could be eligible for one, both, or neither. An experienced criminal defense attorney will help you to determine which avenue to pursue (assuming your record was not automatically sealed), especially when dealing with juvenile offenses and misdemeanor offenses, but it’s also important to understand as much as possible about your situation before you walk into a lawyer’s office.

Sealing Criminal Records

Sealing criminal records means that they are no longer visible through a background check. Without having it sealed, a typical background check that an employer or landlord would initiate will show that you have a criminal record tied to a defendant. Sealing your record essentially makes it invisible.

Who is Eligible to Have Records Sealed?

Only some records can be sealed in the state of Colorado. Whether your case can be sealed or not depends on several factors, such as what type of offense it is, the required waiting period, whether you were actually convicted, rather than just having charges filed, your age, and when your case was closed or dismissed. Once there has been a final disposition in your case and you’ve completed any necessary sentencing requirements, your case will be considered closed.

In the following circumstances, you will be eligible to have your record sealed:

• You were arrested but never actually charged with a crime
• Your case was dismissed, so there was no conviction
• You were found not guilty of the charges
• You were a juvenile (under the age of 18)
• You were underage (under the age of 21)

The above list is not exhaustive, but it gives you a good idea of what types of records can be sealed in Colorado. Working with a Colorado record sealing attorney can help ensure the process is handled correctly and efficiently.

In some circumstances, you may be eligible to have your record sealed even if you were convicted of a crime. It depends on what the crime was; most petty offenses are sealed immediately, so it’s a good idea to speak to an experienced defense lawyer right away so they can determine what can be done under the record sealing process.

You will need all required documentation as well (including a proposed order and Colorado Bureau of Investigation criminal history report), and you will need to pay the applicable filing fees unless you are eligible for a fee waiver. Since record sealing is one of my core practice areas, I am intimately familiar with the filing requirements and relevant court procedures; and, if you are eligible to have your record sealed, I can help you secure a favorable outcome.

Expungement

When you have your record expunged, this is essentially the destruction of the record as opposed to making it so that some individuals can’t see it. An expunged record will also not show up on a background check. I help people who have criminal records in Colorado navigate the expungement process as well. A Colorado record sealing attorney can also help you determine whether expungement or record sealing is the better option for your situation.

Who is Eligible to Have Records Expunged?

In the following circumstances, you can typically have your record expunged (sometimes immediately), which can restore your eligibility for job opportunities and have many other beneficial impacts as well:

• You were found not guilty at trial
• You completed a diversion program
• The prosecutor dropped the charges against you
• you were charged with an underage drinking and driving conviction
• You were arrested due to mistaken identity

This list is also not exhaustive, so if your situation is not covered here and you would like your record expunged, speak with a knowledgeable criminal defense lawyer for assistance.

In some situations, you can even have your DNA sample expunged. This can be quite beneficial because then your DNA won’t be found in the criminal system any longer. This is important to know because anyone arrested for a felony in Colorado is required to submit a DNA sample.

The Benefits of Having Your Criminal Case Sealed in Breckenridge, Colorado Springs, or Denver, CO

If you have your record expunged or sealed and an employer asks if you have a criminal record, you can generally say no. This is not universally true, though, so it’s always a good idea to consult with a Colorado record sealing lawyer about this situation. It is incredibly beneficial to have your record sealed or expunged so that it no longer shows up to potential employers or landlords, as it can negatively impact your future opportunities. Court orders to seal arrest records have improved many people’s lives, and going through the process to have your arrest or court records sealed can improve your life as well.

Are You Eligible to Have Your Criminal Charge or Criminal Conviction Sealed? Call a Colorado Record Sealing Attorney Today

To get the second chance you deserve, call my Colorado record sealing attorney office at (970) 453-5533 or send me an email for a free consultation to discuss sealing your criminal record. I will explain what avenues are available to you in your case and then pursue the appropriate option to help you restore your reputation.