What Information Do I Need to Collect to Determine Whether My Colorado Record Can Be Sealed?
To determine whether your Colorado criminal record can be sealed, you will need your case number, disposition, sentence details, and completion date — for every case on your record.
To determine with certainty whether your Colorado criminal record can be sealed, you (or your lawyer) will need to know the following information:
1. Your case number;
If your case was in state court in any county other than Denver, you can search for cases under your name in the state court database here.
For county and municipal court cases in Denver, search here.
2. Your case “disposition” – i.e., whether your case was dismissed or resulted in your conviction;
3. If you were convicted, the details of your sentence;
4. The date your sentence was completed; and
5. All of the information listed above in any other case on your record.
Where to Find This Information
For items 2-5 above, the first step is to search for your records in the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) database and in the statewide Colorado Courts database. These are the two databases that supply the information that appears in criminal background checks performed by employers, business partners, landlords, educational and financial institutions, and others.
The CBI database will have a record of any time you were arrested in Colorado. The state court database will have a record of any case you had in a Colorado county or district court. For municipal court records (other than Denver municipal cases, which appear in the state court database), contact the municipal court.
Check both databases -- they don’t always overlap, and relying on just one may give you an incomplete picture. Be sure to save copies of any records you find. You will want them for your own files, and any attorney you consult will need to review them.
When the Databases Aren’t Enough
Much of the time, the information you obtain from these databases will include all the required information listed above. At times, however, it is necessary to dig deeper into your case by requesting copies of specific documents from the court file. Contact the clerk’s office at the courthouse that handled your case for more information about this. Most Colorado county and district court case records can be ordered online here.
Need Help?
If you would like help gathering this information or have any other questions about the Colorado record sealing process, contact us to set up a free consultation about your case.
Call us at (720) 541-8583, email us at josh@johnsonlawllc.com, or use the contact form on our website. We respond same day.
Josh Johnson is a Colorado criminal defense and record sealing attorney licensed since 2010, serving clients statewide from his office in Aurora, Colorado.