Colorado Criminal Record Sealing Has Changed: You May Be Eligible to Seal Your Record
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
Colorado Criminal Record Sealing Has Changed: You May Be Eligible Even If You Were Told “No” Before
By Ted McClintock, Colorado Criminal Defense Attorney
For years, many people believed they would carry a criminal record for the rest of their lives. In many cases, that was true. Colorado’s record sealing laws were extremely limited, leaving countless individuals with no realistic path toward clearing their record.
That has changed.
Beginning with Colorado’s Clean Slate Act, passed in 2022, and expanded through additional legislation in 2024, Colorado dramatically increased the opportunities for criminal records to be sealed. The law also created an automatic sealing process for many eligible cases, with implementation occurring in phases during 2024 and 2025.
The result is simple: many people who previously had no options may now qualify to have all or part of their criminal record sealed.
Why Does Record Sealing Matter?
A criminal record can continue to affect your life long after your case is over. Even an old arrest, dismissed case, or conviction can appear during background checks and influence important decisions.
A sealed record can make it easier to:
Obtain employment.
Rent an apartment or purchase housing.
Qualify for professional licenses.
Pass many background checks.
Move forward without a decades-old mistake following you everywhere.
Perhaps most importantly, when your record is properly sealed, the public generally can no longer view those records, and in many situations Colorado law allows you to lawfully state that the sealed arrest or case did not occur when asked by private employers, landlords, or others. Certain government agencies, law enforcement, courts, and licensing authorities may still have access to sealed records as authorized by law.
For many people, sealing a criminal record is not just about privacy—it’s about finally getting a true second chance.
More Cases May Be Eligible Than You Think
One of the biggest misconceptions I hear is:
“I checked years ago and was told my record couldn’t be sealed.”
That answer may no longer be correct.
Colorado’s recent legislative changes have expanded eligibility for many types of criminal cases. While not every offense can be sealed, the law now provides relief for significantly more people than it did just a few years ago.
Every case is different. Eligibility depends on several factors, including:
The specific charges.
Whether the case resulted in a conviction.
The level of the offense.
Whether all waiting periods have passed.
Your criminal history.
Whether any statutory exceptions apply.
Because the law has changed so significantly, it is often worthwhile to have an attorney review your record—even if you were previously told you were not eligible.
We Can Review Your Record
If you believe you may qualify for record sealing, contact our office.
To help us evaluate your case, please provide as much of the following information as possible:
Your full legal name.
Your date of birth.
Your case number (if available).
The Colorado county where the case occurred.
The name or nature of the charge or charges, if you know them.
Don’t worry if you don’t have all of this information.
Many clients no longer have copies of their court paperwork or cannot remember exactly what they were charged with. We can often help locate your case, determine whether it qualifies for sealing, and explain all of your available options.
Take the First Step Toward a Fresh Start
If an old criminal case is preventing you from getting the job, apartment, professional license, or opportunity you deserve, it may be time to find out whether Colorado’s new sealing laws can help.
Every year I speak with people who assumed they had no options—only to discover that the law had changed.
Your case may be eligible even if it wasn’t in the past.
Contact Colorado Criminal Defense Attorney Ted McClintock today to review your criminal record and determine whether your case can be sealed.
Ted McClintock
Colorado Criminal Defense Attorney
719-520-3968
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