Colorado Expungement Laws: How to Clear or Seal a Criminal Record
How to expunge or seal a criminal record in Colorado: arrests, misdemeanors, felonies, DUI, juvenile records, waiting periods, fees and how to file.
Quick answers for Colorado
- What relief the state offers
- Colorado uses "record sealing," which hides criminal records from public view; the records still exist and some law enforcement agencies and authorized organizations can still see them, and sealing a conviction does not vacate it. C.R.S. §§ 24-72-701 to 24-72-711; § 19-1-306; Colorado Judicial Branch, Seal My Case
- Misdemeanor convictions
- A conviction can be sealed after a waiting period that starts at the end of all criminal proceedings or release from supervision, whichever is later: one year for petty and drug petty offenses; C.R.S. §§ 24-72-706, 24-72-706(2)(b); JDF 611 (rev. July 1, 2025)
- Felony convictions
- Class 4, 5 and 6 felonies and level 3 and most level 4 drug felonies can be sealed three years after the end of proceedings or release from supervision (some level 4 drug felonies after two years). C.R.S. §§ 24-72-706(2), 24-72-709; JDF 611; Colorado Judicial Branch sealing presentation (Feb. 2025)
- Automatic (clean slate) relief
- Yes, in part. Records of cases that end in full acquittal, full dismissal, completed diversion or a completed deferred judgment are to be sealed by the court automatically, unless the charges fall under the Victim Rights Act or another exception. C.R.S. §§ 24-72-705, 18-13-122; Seal My Case (auto-sealing forms)
Last verified: 2026-10-27
Who qualifies
| What relief the state offers | Colorado uses "record sealing," which hides criminal records from public view; the records still exist and some law enforcement agencies and authorized organizations can still see them, and sealing a conviction does not vacate it. Adult options include sealing of arrests with no charges, sealing of dismissed or acquitted cases, sealing of single or multiple convictions, sealing of municipal convictions, sealing after a governor's pardon, and sealing of convictions for conduct that is no longer illegal. Juvenile delinquency records can be "expunged." |
|---|---|
| Arrests and dismissed charges | If a case ends in acquittal on all counts, complete dismissal, successful diversion, or a completed deferred judgment with all counts dismissed, the court is required to seal the records, and the process is intended to be automatic; if it did not happen, the person can file a Motion to Seal Non-Conviction Records (JDF 477) in the existing case at no cost. Some charges (for example, many Victim Rights Act offenses and certain traffic offenses) are not automatically sealed and may require a hearing. If no charges were filed, a person may petition the district court in the county of arrest (JDF 417) after completing diversion, after the statute of limitations has run, or when no longer under investigation. A case dismissed as part of a plea deal in another case cannot be sealed until the other case is eligible. |
| Misdemeanor convictions | A conviction can be sealed after a waiting period that starts at the end of all criminal proceedings or release from supervision, whichever is later: one year for petty and drug petty offenses; two years for class 2 and 3 misdemeanors and any drug misdemeanor; three years for class 1 misdemeanors. Restitution must be fully paid. Some misdemeanors are in ineligible categories (such as offenses involving domestic violence, unlawful sexual behavior or child abuse, DUI/DWAI and traffic offenses), but an ineligible misdemeanor may still be sealed if the district attorney consents or the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the need is significant and the person is no longer a public-safety threat. After a denial, the person must wait one year to ask again. |
| Felony convictions | Class 4, 5 and 6 felonies and level 3 and most level 4 drug felonies can be sealed three years after the end of proceedings or release from supervision (some level 4 drug felonies after two years). Not eligible: class 1, 2 and 3 felonies and level 1 drug felonies, crimes of violence, felonies listed in the Victim Rights Act, convictions involving unlawful sexual behavior, child abuse or domestic violence, extraordinary-risk and aggravated-circumstance crimes, crimes with a pregnant victim, special-offender drug crimes, identity theft, pandering, prostitution and animal cruelty, among others. Up to a limited number of convictions from multiple cases can be sealed together through a separate petition (JDF 641) with longer waiting periods (up to ten years for felonies). |
| DUI / DWI convictions | No. DUI and DWAI convictions are listed among the convictions that cannot be sealed under C.R.S. § 24-72-706(2), and they are also excluded from multiple-conviction sealing. |
| Juvenile records | A person may petition the court that has the case to expunge a juvenile delinquency record; expunged records are treated as never having existed, and the person may lawfully deny the arrest or adjudication. Not eligible: felony adjudications involving unlawful sexual behavior, aggravated or violent juvenile offenders, homicide offenses, and offenses under Title 42 (traffic). Many closed cases can be expunged right away (including acquittals, dismissals, and successful completion of a sentence or diversion for petty offenses and class 2 or 3 misdemeanors), others after notice and a hearing, a police contact with no further action after one year, and mandatory or repeat offenders three years after release. Expunged records remain available to judges and probation for later sentencing. Use JDF 301 (guide), JDF 302 (petition) and JDF 304 (order). JDF 301 found is dated October 11, 2021; check for a newer version. Source: C.R.S. § 19-1-306; JDF 301 |
| Past marijuana convictions | If a law change makes previously prohibited conduct legal, a person can file a motion in the conviction case to seal the record (JDF 2370 guide, JDF 2371 motion), with no fee and no background check required; the prosecutor may object only if it believes in good faith the conduct is still illegal. Underage alcohol and marijuana offenses have a separate sealing process, and a first underage conviction is sealed automatically after August 10, 2022. The materials reviewed do not specifically name adult marijuana possession; § 24-72-711 applies generally to conduct no longer prohibited. Source: C.R.S. §§ 24-72-711, 18-13-122 |
How to apply
| How to apply | For a single conviction in county or district court: confirm eligibility, get a criminal history report from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (cbirecordscheck.com) and file within 20 days of it, then file the Motion to Seal (JDF 612) with proposed orders JDF 613, 614 and 615 in the criminal case and mail a copy to the prosecutor. The court may hold a hearing and weighs the harm to the person's privacy against the public interest. If granted, the court sends the order to the listed agencies, which generally seal records within 30 days. Municipal convictions (JDF 682-686) and multiple convictions (JDF 640-642) are filed as new district court civil cases; no-charge arrests use JDF 416-419. |
|---|---|
| Filing fee | The current court guide says the clerk will tell you the fee, if any, at filing; a person who cannot afford it can file a Motion to Waive Fees (JDF 205) with order JDF 206. A 2025 court training presentation lists $65 for a motion to seal a conviction in the criminal case and $224 for petitions that open a new civil case (no-charge arrests, municipal convictions, multiple convictions); motions to seal non-conviction records, underage alcohol/marijuana records and conduct that is no longer illegal have no fee. The CBI name-based record check costs $4. Confirm current amounts with the clerk. |
| Automatic (clean slate) relief | Yes, in part. Records of cases that end in full acquittal, full dismissal, completed diversion or a completed deferred judgment are to be sealed by the court automatically, unless the charges fall under the Victim Rights Act or another exception. A first underage alcohol or marijuana conviction is sealed automatically after August 10, 2022. The Judicial Branch also has forms for a district attorney to object to automatic sealing (JDF 2361) and for the defendant to request a hearing (JDF 2363). Which conviction records qualify for automatic sealing (the auto-sealing forms) was not detailed on the pages reviewed. |
After your record is cleared
| What clearing a record does | A sealed record is no longer available to the public, and agencies must answer inquiries by saying no such record exists, but this does not apply to inquiries from criminal justice agencies. Records are not destroyed and remain available to criminal justice agencies, the court and the district attorney; if the person is convicted again, a sealed record may be unsealed or used at sentencing. Sealing a conviction does not vacate it. Immigration authorities may treat sealed convictions differently. |
|---|---|
| Pardons | A person who has received a full and complete pardon from the governor can ask the court to seal the pardoned conviction using JDF 680 (motion) and JDF 681 (order). |
Where to get help in Colorado
Expungement & Criminal Records FAQ
Can you get a criminal record expunged in Colorado?
Colorado uses "record sealing," which hides criminal records from public view; the records still exist and some law enforcement agencies and authorized organizations can still see them, and sealing a conviction does not vacate it. Adult options include sealing of arrests with no charges, sealing of dismissed or acquitted cases, sealing of single or multiple convictions, sealing of municipal convictions, sealing after a governor's pardon, and sealing of convictions for conduct that is no longer illegal. Juvenile delinquency records can be "expunged."
Can you clear an arrest or dismissed charge in Colorado?
If a case ends in acquittal on all counts, complete dismissal, successful diversion, or a completed deferred judgment with all counts dismissed, the court is required to seal the records, and the process is intended to be automatic; if it did not happen, the person can file a Motion to Seal Non-Conviction Records (JDF 477) in the existing case at no cost. Some charges (for example, many Victim Rights Act offenses and certain traffic offenses) are not automatically sealed and may require a hearing. If no charges were filed, a person may petition the district court in the county of arrest (JDF 417) after completing diversion, after the statute of limitations has run, or when no longer under investigation. A case dismissed as part of a plea deal in another case cannot be sealed until the other case is eligible.
Can a misdemeanor be expunged in Colorado?
A conviction can be sealed after a waiting period that starts at the end of all criminal proceedings or release from supervision, whichever is later: one year for petty and drug petty offenses; two years for class 2 and 3 misdemeanors and any drug misdemeanor; three years for class 1 misdemeanors. Restitution must be fully paid. Some misdemeanors are in ineligible categories (such as offenses involving domestic violence, unlawful sexual behavior or child abuse, DUI/DWAI and traffic offenses), but an ineligible misdemeanor may still be sealed if the district attorney consents or the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the need is significant and the person is no longer a public-safety threat. After a denial, the person must wait one year to ask again.
Can a felony be expunged in Colorado?
Class 4, 5 and 6 felonies and level 3 and most level 4 drug felonies can be sealed three years after the end of proceedings or release from supervision (some level 4 drug felonies after two years). Not eligible: class 1, 2 and 3 felonies and level 1 drug felonies, crimes of violence, felonies listed in the Victim Rights Act, convictions involving unlawful sexual behavior, child abuse or domestic violence, extraordinary-risk and aggravated-circumstance crimes, crimes with a pregnant victim, special-offender drug crimes, identity theft, pandering, prostitution and animal cruelty, among others. Up to a limited number of convictions from multiple cases can be sealed together through a separate petition (JDF 641) with longer waiting periods (up to ten years for felonies).
Does Colorado have automatic record clearing (clean slate)?
Yes, in part. Records of cases that end in full acquittal, full dismissal, completed diversion or a completed deferred judgment are to be sealed by the court automatically, unless the charges fall under the Victim Rights Act or another exception. A first underage alcohol or marijuana conviction is sealed automatically after August 10, 2022. The Judicial Branch also has forms for a district attorney to object to automatic sealing (JDF 2361) and for the defendant to request a hearing (JDF 2363).
Can a DUI be expunged in Colorado?
No. DUI and DWAI convictions are listed among the convictions that cannot be sealed under C.R.S. § 24-72-706(2), and they are also excluded from multiple-conviction sealing.
How do you seal a juvenile record in Colorado?
A person may petition the court that has the case to expunge a juvenile delinquency record; expunged records are treated as never having existed, and the person may lawfully deny the arrest or adjudication. Not eligible: felony adjudications involving unlawful sexual behavior, aggravated or violent juvenile offenders, homicide offenses, and offenses under Title 42 (traffic). Many closed cases can be expunged right away (including acquittals, dismissals, and successful completion of a sentence or diversion for petty offenses and class 2 or 3 misdemeanors), others after notice and a hearing, a police contact with no further action after one year, and mandatory or repeat offenders three years after release. Expunged records remain available to judges and probation for later sentencing. Use JDF 301 (guide), JDF 302 (petition) and JDF 304 (order).
How do you file for expungement in Colorado?
For a single conviction in county or district court: confirm eligibility, get a criminal history report from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (cbirecordscheck.com) and file within 20 days of it, then file the Motion to Seal (JDF 612) with proposed orders JDF 613, 614 and 615 in the criminal case and mail a copy to the prosecutor. The court may hold a hearing and weighs the harm to the person's privacy against the public interest. If granted, the court sends the order to the listed agencies, which generally seal records within 30 days. Municipal convictions (JDF 682-686) and multiple convictions (JDF 640-642) are filed as new district court civil cases; no-charge arrests use JDF 416-419.
How much does expungement cost in Colorado?
The current court guide says the clerk will tell you the fee, if any, at filing; a person who cannot afford it can file a Motion to Waive Fees (JDF 205) with order JDF 206. A 2025 court training presentation lists $65 for a motion to seal a conviction in the criminal case and $224 for petitions that open a new civil case (no-charge arrests, municipal convictions, multiple convictions); motions to seal non-conviction records, underage alcohol/marijuana records and conduct that is no longer illegal have no fee. The CBI name-based record check costs $4.
What happens after a record is expunged or sealed in Colorado?
A sealed record is no longer available to the public, and agencies must answer inquiries by saying no such record exists, but this does not apply to inquiries from criminal justice agencies. Records are not destroyed and remain available to criminal justice agencies, the court and the district attorney; if the person is convicted again, a sealed record may be unsealed or used at sentencing. Sealing a conviction does not vacate it. Immigration authorities may treat sealed convictions differently.
How do you get a pardon in Colorado?
A person who has received a full and complete pardon from the governor can ask the court to seal the pardoned conviction using JDF 680 (motion) and JDF 681 (order).
Can old marijuana convictions be cleared in Colorado?
If a law change makes previously prohibited conduct legal, a person can file a motion in the conviction case to seal the record (JDF 2370 guide, JDF 2371 motion), with no fee and no background check required; the prosecutor may object only if it believes in good faith the conduct is still illegal. Underage alcohol and marijuana offenses have a separate sealing process, and a first underage conviction is sealed automatically after August 10, 2022.
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