Sealing or Expunging Juvenile Records in Colorado
How juvenile records are sealed or expunged in Colorado, and whether it happens automatically.
Short answer: 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. C.R.S. § 19-1-306; JDF 301
| 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 |
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Where to get help in Colorado
More Colorado expungement & criminal records
- Getting a Copy of Your Colorado Criminal Record
- Expunging or Sealing a Felony in Colorado
- Clearing a DUI From Your Record in Colorado
- How to File for Expungement in Colorado
- All Colorado expungement & criminal records rules
FAQ
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).
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.