2016 Colorado Revised Statutes
Title 24 - Government - State
Public (Open) Records
Article 72 - Public Records
Part 7 - Criminal Justice Record Sealing
§ 24-72-705. Sealing of criminal conviction records information for offenses involving controlled substances for convictions entered on or after July 1, 2011

(1) Sealing of conviction records. (a) Subject to the limitations described in subsection (2) of this section, a defendant may petition the district court of the district in which any conviction records pertaining to the defendant are located for the sealing of the conviction records, except basic identifying information, if the petition is filed within the time frame described in paragraph (b) of this subsection (1).

(b) (I) If the offense is a petty offense or a class 2 or 3 misdemeanor in article 18 of title 18, C.R.S., the petition may be filed three years after the later of the date of the final disposition of all criminal proceedings against the defendant or the release of the defendant from supervision concerning a criminal conviction.

(II) If the offense is a class 1 misdemeanor in article 18 of title 18, C.R.S., the petition may be filed five years after the later of the date of the final disposition of all criminal proceedings against the defendant or the release of the defendant from supervision concerning a criminal conviction.

(III) If the offense is a class 5 felony or class 6 felony drug possession offense described in section 18-18-403.5, C.R.S., as it existed prior to October 1, 2013, section 18-18-404, C.R.S., or section 18-18-405, C.R.S., as it existed prior to August 11, 2010, the petition may be filed seven years after the later of the date of the final disposition of all criminal proceedings against the defendant or the release of the defendant from supervision concerning a criminal conviction.

(IV) For all other offenses in article 18 of title 18, C.R.S., the petition may be filed ten years after the later of the date of the final disposition of all criminal proceedings against the defendant or the release of the defendant from supervision concerning a criminal conviction.

(c) (I) If the offense is a petty drug offense in article 18 of title 18, C.R.S., the petition may be filed one year after the later of the date of the final disposition of all criminal proceedings against the defendant or the release of the defendant from supervision concerning a criminal conviction.

(II) If the offense is a level 2 drug misdemeanor in article 18 of title 18, C.R.S., the petition may be filed three years after the later of the date of the final disposition of all criminal proceedings against the defendant or the release of the defendant from supervision concerning a criminal conviction.

(III) If the offense is a level 1 drug misdemeanor in article 18 of title 18, C.R.S., the petition may be filed five years after the later of the date of the final disposition of all criminal proceedings against the defendant or the release of the defendant from supervision concerning a criminal conviction.

(IV) If the offense is a level 4 drug felony, the petition may be filed seven years after the later of the date of the final disposition of all criminal proceedings against the defendant or the release of the defendant from supervision concerning a criminal conviction.

(V) For all other felony drug offenses in article 18 of title 18, C.R.S., the petition may be filed ten years after the later of the date of the final disposition of all criminal proceedings against the defendant or the release of the defendant from supervision concerning a criminal conviction.

(d) (I) If a petition is filed for the sealing of a petty offense in article 18 of title 18, C.R.S., the court shall order the record sealed after the petition is filed, the filing fee is paid, and the criminal history filed with the petition as required by section 24-72-703 (9) documents to the court that the defendant has not been charged or convicted for a criminal offense since the date of the final disposition of all criminal proceedings against him or her or since the date of the defendant's release from supervision, whichever is later.

(II) If a petition is filed for the sealing of a class 1, class 2, or class 3 misdemeanor in article 18 of title 18, C.R.S., the defendant shall pay the filing fee and provide notice of the petition to the district attorney. The district attorney shall determine whether to object to the petition after considering the factors in section 24-72-704 (1) (c). If the district attorney does not object, the court shall order that the record be sealed after the defendant documents to the court that he or she has not been charged or convicted for a criminal offense since the date of the final disposition of all criminal proceedings against him or her or the date of the defendant's release from supervision, whichever is later. If the district attorney objects to the petition, the court shall set the matter for hearing. To order the record sealed, the criminal history filed with the petition as required by section 24-72-703 (9) must document to the court that the defendant has not been charged with or convicted of a criminal offense since the date of the final disposition of all criminal proceedings against him or her or since the date of the defendant's release from supervision, whichever is later. The court shall decide the petition after considering the factors in section 24-72-704 (1) (c).

(III) If a petition is filed for the sealing of a class 5 or class 6 felony possession offense described in section 18-18-403.5, C.R.S., as it existed prior to October 1, 2013, section 18-18-404, C.R.S., or section 18-18-405, C.R.S., as it existed prior to August 11, 2010, the defendant shall pay the filing fee and provide notice of the petition to the district attorney. The district attorney shall determine whether to object to the petition after considering the factors in section 24-72-704 (1) (c). If the district attorney does not object, the court may decide the petition with or without the benefit of a hearing. If the district attorney objects to the petition, the court shall set the matter for hearing. To order the record sealed, the criminal history filed with the petition as required by section 24-72-703 (9) must document to the court that the defendant has not been charged or convicted for a criminal offense since the date of the final disposition of all criminal proceedings against him or her or since the date of the defendant's release from supervision, whichever is later. The court shall decide the petition after considering the factors in section 24-72-704 (1) (c).

(IV) If a petition is filed for any offense in article 18 of title 18, C.R.S., that is not covered by subparagraphs (I) to (III) of this paragraph (d), the defendant shall pay the filing fee and provide notice of the petition to the district attorney. The district attorney shall determine whether to object to the petition after considering the factors in section 24-72-704 (1) (c). If the district attorney objects to the petition, the court shall dismiss the petition. If the district attorney does not object, the court shall set the petition for a hearing. To order the record sealed, the criminal history filed with the petition as required by section 24-72-703 (9) must document to the court that the defendant has not been charged or convicted for a criminal offense since the date of the final disposition of all criminal proceedings against him or her or the date of the defendant's release from supervision, whichever is later. The court shall decide the petition after considering the factors in section 24-72-704 (1) (c).

(e) (I) If a petition is filed for the sealing of a petty drug offense in article 18 of title 18, C.R.S., the court shall order the record sealed after the petition is filed, the filing fee is paid, and the criminal history filed with the petition as required by section 24-72-703 (9) documents to the court that the defendant has not been charged or convicted for a criminal offense since the date of the final disposition of all criminal proceedings against him or her or since the date of the defendant's release from supervision, whichever is later.

(II) If a petition is filed for the sealing of a level 1 or level 2 drug misdemeanor in article 18 of title 18, C.R.S., the defendant shall pay the filing fee and provide notice of the petition to the district attorney. The district attorney may object to the petition after considering the factors in section 24-72-704 (1) (c). If the district attorney does not object, the court shall order that the record be sealed after the defendant documents to the court that he or she has not been charged or convicted for a criminal offense since the date of the final disposition of all criminal proceedings against him or her or the date of the defendant's release from supervision, whichever is later. If the district attorney objects to the petition, the court shall set the matter for hearing. To order the record sealed, the criminal history filed with the petition as required by section 24-72-703 (9) must document to the court that the defendant has not been charged with or convicted of a criminal offense since the date of the final disposition of all criminal proceedings against him or her or since the date of the defendant's release from supervision, whichever is later. The court shall decide the petition after considering the factors in section 24-72-704 (1) (c).

(III) If a petition is filed for the sealing of a level 4 drug felony possession offense described in section 18-18-403.5, C.R.S., the defendant shall pay the filing fee and provide notice of the petition to the district attorney. The district attorney may object to the petition after considering the factors in section 24-72-704 (1) (c). If the district attorney does not object, the court may decide the petition with or without the benefit of a hearing. If the district attorney objects to the petition, the court shall set the matter for hearing. To order the record sealed, the criminal history filed with the petition as required by section 24-72-703 (9) must document to the court that the defendant has not been charged or convicted for a criminal offense since the date of the final disposition of all criminal proceedings against him or her or since the date of the defendant's release from supervision, whichever is later. The court shall decide the petition after considering the factors in section 24-72-704 (1) (c).

(IV) If a petition is filed for any other felony drug offense in article 18 of title 18, C.R.S., that is not covered by subparagraphs (I) to (III) of this paragraph (e), the defendant shall pay the filing fee and provide notice of the petition to the district attorney. The district attorney may object to the petition after considering the factors in section 24-72-704 (1) (c). If the district attorney objects to the petition, the court shall dismiss the petition. If the district attorney does not object, the court shall set the petition for a hearing. To order the record sealed, the criminal history filed with the petition as required by section 24-72-703 (9) must document to the court that the defendant has not been charged or convicted for a criminal offense since the date of the final disposition of all criminal proceedings against him or her or the date of the defendant's release from supervision, whichever is later. The court shall decide the petition after considering the factors in section 24-72-704 (1) (c).

(f) An order entered pursuant to this section must be directed to each custodian who may have custody of any part of the conviction records that are the subject of the order. Whenever a court enters an order sealing conviction records pursuant to this section, the defendant shall provide the Colorado bureau of investigation and each custodian of the conviction records with a copy of the order and shall pay to the bureau any costs related to the sealing of his or her criminal conviction records that are in the custody of the bureau. Thereafter, the defendant may request and the court may grant an order sealing the civil case in which the conviction records were sealed.

(g) Conviction records may not be sealed if the defendant still owes restitution, fines, court costs, late fees, or other fees ordered by the court in the case that is the subject of the petition to seal conviction records, unless the court that entered the order for restitution, fines, court costs, late fees, or other fees has vacated the order.

(2) Applicability. (a) The provisions of this section shall apply only to conviction records pertaining to judgments of conviction entered on or after July 1, 2011.

(b) The provisions of this section shall not apply to conviction records that are in the possession of a criminal justice agency when an inquiry concerning the conviction records is made by another criminal justice agency.