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Expungement of Juvenile Record in Denver, Colorado

What is Expungement in Denver?

While you can't undo your crime, Expungement is the next best thing. In Denver, Colorado, Expungement involves all records of your arrest, crime, and time spent in juvenile detention being erased, with no chance of it coming back to the surface later in life. This is different than a sealed record, which can be accessible with a court order. For a juvenile who made a mistake and learned from it, an Expungement can mean a fresh start.

Expungement is defined in C.R.S. 19-1-103 (48) as “the designation of juvenile delinquency records whereby such records are deemed never to have existed.”

How can my son's record be expunged in Jefferson County?

An Expungement might sound too good to be true, and for some crimes it is.  Violent crimes such as sexual assault, unlawful sexual behavior, and class 1 or 2 felonies, are not eligible for Expungement. However, if you committed a class 1 misdemeanor, if your case was dismissed or deferred, you were found not guilty, you have proof of being coerced into committing the minor crime, you have paid your restitution, you've completed your sentence for a municipal offense, or if you completed a juvenile diversion program, you could be eligible to have your record expunged (note: this is not a complete list of situations where an Expungement is possible). To start, you will need to file a Petition with a court. If your petition is denied, you will have to wait 12 months before you can refile. It is a complex process, and having an experienced defense lawyer at your side is essential.

Why should I get my record expunged in Arapahoe County?

As a teenager, you have a lot of life ahead of you. You will be applying for jobs, places to live, and even applying to College. A criminal record showing on a background check will be a serious disadvantage, and cause a lot of prejudice towards you. With an Expungement, you can lawfully deny that you have ever been “arrested, charged, adjudicated, convicted or sentenced in regard to the expunged case, matter, or charge” (C.R.S. 19-1-306).

Adams County Juvenile Expungement Attorney

If you believe that your child's juvenile record might be eligible for Expungement in Adams County, or anywhere in Colorado, contact the experienced criminal defense attorneys at Sawyer Legal Group to set up a free initial consultation. Call 303-830-0880. Together, we can protect your child's future.

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The following definition is long and can seem daunting. Our lawyers are available for a free initial consultation – To set up an appointment, call us at 303-830-0880.

19-1-306. Expungement of juvenile delinquent records – definition:

(1)  (a) For the purposes of this section, “expungement” is defined in section 19-1-103 (48). Upon the entry of an expungement order, the person who is the subject of the record that has been expunged may assert that he or she has no juvenile delinquency record. Further, the person who is the subject of the record that has been expunged may lawfully deny that he or she has ever been arrested, charged, adjudicated, convicted, or sentenced in regard to the expunged case, matter, or charge.

(b)  The court, law enforcement, and all other agencies shall reply to any inquiry regarding an expunged record that no record exists with respect to the person named in the record, unless information may be shared with the inquiring party pursuant to subsection (3) of this section.

(2)  (a) At the time of the adjudication, the court shall advise the adjudicated juvenile and any respondent parent or guardian, in writing, of the right to expunge and the time period and process for expunging the order. The court, on its own motion or the motion of the juvenile probation department, the juvenile parole department, the juvenile, a respondent parent or guardian, or a court-appointed guardian ad litem, may initiate expungement proceedings concerning the record of any juvenile who has been under the jurisdiction of the court.

(b)  If a juvenile is supervised by probation, the probation department, upon the termination of the juvenile's supervision period, shall provide the juvenile with a written advisement of the right to expungement and the time period and process for expunging the record.

(c)  If a juvenile is supervised by parole, the department or division supervising the juvenile's parole, upon the termination of the juvenile's parole supervision period, shall provide the juvenile with a written advisement of the right to expungement and the time period and process for expunging the record.

(d)  If the juvenile is supervised by a diversion officer or agency other than probation, the agency supervising the diversion program, upon the termination of the juvenile's diversion period, shall provide the juvenile with a written advisement of the right to expungement and the time period and process for expunging the record.

(e)  If a juvenile is sentenced in municipal court, the municipal court, at sentencing, shall provide the juvenile and any respondent parent or guardian with a written advisement of the right to expungement and the time period and process for expunging the record. The municipal court may provide the notice through a municipal diversion program, the city attorney, or a municipal probation program.

(f)  If a juvenile is committed to the division of youth services and is released without a requirement to complete further parole, the division shall provide the juvenile with a written advisement of the right to expungement and the time period and process for expunging the record.

(g)  Expungement must be effectuated by physically sealing or conspicuously indicating on the face of the record or at the beginning of the computerized file of the record that the record has been designated as expunged.

(h)  The prosecuting attorney shall not require as a condition of a plea agreement that the juvenile waive his or her right to expungement under this section upon the completion of the juvenile's sentence.

(i)  Prior to the court ordering any records expunged, the court shall determine whether the juvenile has any felony, drug felony, misdemeanor, drug misdemeanor, petty offense, or delinquency actions pending, and, if the court determines that there is a felony, drug felony, misdemeanor, drug misdemeanor, petty offense, or delinquency action pending against the juvenile, the court shall stay the petition for expungement proceedings until the resolution of the pending case.

(3)  (a) After expungement, basic identification information on the juvenile and a list of any state and local agencies and officials having contact with the juvenile, as they appear in the records, are not open to the public but are available to a prosecuting attorney, local law enforcement agency, the department of human services, the state judicial department, and the victim as defined in section 24-4.1-302 (5); except that such information is not available to an agency of the military forces of the United States.

(b)  Notwithstanding any order for expungement pursuant to this section, any record that is ordered expunged is available to any judge and the probation department for use in any future proceeding in which the person whose record was expunged is charged with an offense as either a juvenile or as an adult. A new criminal or delinquency charge may not be brought against the juvenile based upon information gained initially or solely from examination of the expunged records.

(c)  Notwithstanding an order for expungement pursuant to this section, any criminal justice record of a juvenile who has been charged, adjudicated, or convicted of any offense shall be available for use by the juvenile, the juvenile's attorney, a prosecuting attorney, any law enforcement agency, or any agency of the state judicial department in any subsequent criminal investigation or prosecution as a substantive predicate offense conviction or adjudication of record.

(d)  Notwithstanding any order for expungement issued pursuant to this section, nothing prevents the prosecuting attorney, including the staff of a prosecuting attorney's office or a victim or witness assistance program or a law enforcement agency or law enforcement victim assistance program, from discussing with the victim the case, the results of any expungement proceedings, information regarding restitution, and information related to any victim services available to the victim as defined in section 24-4.1-302 (5), but copies of expunged records must not be provided to the victim. The victim may petition the court and request that a copy of the expunged records be provided to the victim. If the court finds that there are compelling reasons for the release, a copy of the expunged records may be released to the victim. If the court orders the release of a copy of the expunged records to the victim, the court must issue a protective order regarding the usage of the expunged records.

(e)  Notwithstanding any order for expungement issued pursuant to this section, any information, including police affidavits and reports and records related to any prior conviction or adjudication, are available without court order to the persons, government agencies, or entities allowed access to or allowed to exchange such information pursuant to section 19-1-303 for the purposes described therein. Any person who knowingly violates the confidentiality provisions of section 19-1-303 is subject to the penalty in section 19-1-303 (4.7).

(f)  Notwithstanding any order for expungement issued pursuant to this section, nothing in this section precludes a county department of human or social services employee from reviewing internal department records that are ordered expunged and are in the county department's possession for purposes of department investigations and case management in the provision of child welfare services.

(4)  (a) The court shall order all records in a juvenile delinquency case in the custody of the court, and any records related to the case and charges in the custody of any other agency, person, company, or organization, expunged within forty-two days after:

(I)  A finding of not guilty at an adjudicatory trial;

(II)  Dismissal of the petition in its entirety; or

(III)  The completion of a sentence for a petty offense, drug petty offense, class 2 or class 3 misdemeanor offense, or level 1 or level 2 drug misdemeanor if the offense does not involve unlawful sexual behavior as defined in section 16-22-102 (9), is not an act of domestic violence as defined in section 18-6-800.3, or is not a crime listed under section 24-4.1-302 (1), and the defendant was under eighteen years of age at the time the offense was committed.

(b)  When an expungement order is issued pursuant to this section, the court shall send a copy of the order to the juvenile, the juvenile's last attorney of record, the prosecuting attorney, the law enforcement agency or agencies that investigated the case, the state court administrator's office, the division of youth services, and the Colorado bureau of investigation, directing the entity to expunge the records in its custody as directed in the order. The person who is the subject of records expunged pursuant to this section may petition the court to permit inspection of the records held by persons named in the order, and the court may so order.

(c)  The court shall, on or before November 1 of each year, review all juvenile delinquency court files during the two previous years that resulted in a finding of not guilty; a dismissal of the petition; a sentence for a petty offense; a sentence for a drug petty offense; a sentence for a drug misdemeanor offense; or a sentence for a class 2 or class 3 misdemeanor offense if the offense does not involve unlawful sexual behavior as defined in section 16-22-102 (9), is not an act of domestic violence as defined in section 18-6-800.3, or is not a crime listed under section 24-4.1-302 (1), and the defendant was under eighteen years of age at the time the offense was committed. The court shall enter an expungement order for all juveniles eligible for expungement pursuant to this subsection (4), if the expungement order was not previously made.

(5)  (a) The court shall send notice to the prosecuting attorney and supervising agency of the juvenile at least ninety-one days prior to the end of the juvenile's diversion program, deferred adjudication, informal adjustment, or sentence that all records in a juvenile delinquency case in the custody of the court, and any records related to the case and charges in the custody of any other agency, person, company, or organization, will be expunged after completion of:

(I)  A juvenile diversion program, a deferred adjudication, or an informal adjustment;

(II)  A juvenile sentence for an adjudication for a class 1 misdemeanor or a petty or a misdemeanor offense that is not eligible for expungement under subsection (4) of this section, if the offense did not involve unlawful sexual behavior as defined in section 16-22-102 (9);

(III)  A juvenile sentence for an adjudication for a misdemeanor offense involving unlawful sexual contact as described in section 18-3-404; or

(IV)  A juvenile sentence for an adjudication for a felony offense or felony drug offense if:

(A)  The felony offense did not constitute unlawful sexual behavior as defined in section 16-22-102 (9);

(B)  The felony offense was not a crime of violence as described in section 18-1.3-406;

(C)  The felony offense was not a class 1 or class 2 felony; and

(D)  The juvenile had no prior felony adjudications.

(b)  Upon receipt of the notice from the court in subsection (5)(a) of this section, the prosecuting attorney shall contact the victim regarding expungement.

(c)  Upon issuance of the notice from the court in subsection (5)(a) of this section, the supervising agency must prepare a report and summary of supervision outlining the performance of the juvenile while under supervision. If the juvenile is no longer under supervision, the supervising agency must contact the juvenile and summarize the juvenile's activities since termination of supervision to assist the court in making its determination of the appropriateness for expungement. The supervising agency shall provide the report to the court, the prosecuting attorney, the juvenile, and the juvenile's attorney of record within twenty-eight days of the notice from the court.

(d)  If neither the prosecuting attorney nor a victim files an objection within eighty-four days after the issuance of the notice pursuant to subsection (5)(a) of this section, the court shall order all records in the juvenile delinquency case in the custody of the court, and any records related to the case and charges in the custody of any other agency, person, company, or organization, expunged.

(e)  If the prosecuting attorney or a victim files an objection within eighty-four days after receipt of the notice by the prosecuting attorney pursuant to subsection (5)(a) of this section, the court shall schedule a hearing on the issue of expungement. The court shall notify all objecting parties of the hearing date. The hearing must be set at least thirty-five days after the date the court sends notice of the hearing.

(f)  If a hearing is scheduled pursuant to subsection (5)(e) of this section, the court shall send notice to the last known address of the juvenile notifying the juvenile of the date of the hearing and of the juvenile's right to appear at the hearing and to present evidence to the court in writing prior to the hearing and in person at the hearing. The notice must indicate that, at the hearing, the court will consider whether the juvenile has been rehabilitated and whether expungement is in the best interest of the juvenile and the community. The juvenile is not required to appear at the hearing.

(g)  At a hearing held pursuant to this subsection (5), the court shall order all records of the case in the custody of the court, and any records related to the case or charges in the custody of any other agency, person, company, or organization, expunged if the court makes written findings that:

(I)  The rehabilitation of the juvenile has been attained to the satisfaction of the court; and

(II)  The expungement is in the best interest of the juvenile and the community.

(h)  The court shall, starting on November 1, 2019, and each November 1 thereafter, review all juvenile delinquency court files during the two previous years that resulted in participation in diversion, a deferred adjudication, or an informal adjustment; a sentence for a class 1 misdemeanor offense, any drug felony offense, or a misdemeanor offense involving domestic violence as defined in section 18-6-800.3; or a felony offense that did not constitute unlawful sexual behavior as defined in section 16-22-102 (9), was not a crime of violence as described in section 18-1.3-406, and was not a class 1 or class 2 felony. The court shall send the notice required for all records eligible for a notice pursuant to this subsection (5) if the notice was not previously sent and an expungement order was not previously made. After the notice is sent, the provisions of subsections (5)(b) to (5)(g) of this section apply.

(i)  With the victim's consent, or if there is no named victim, the prosecuting attorney may agree at the time of a plea that there will be no objection to expungement upon the completion of the juvenile's sentence. In such a case, the court shall order all records of the case in the custody of the court, and any records related to the case or charges in the custody of any other agency, person, company, or organization, expunged upon completion of the juvenile's sentence. A hearing is not required.

(j)  A juvenile who was adjudicated as a mandatory sentence offender pursuant to section 19-2-516 (1) or as a repeat juvenile offender pursuant to section 19-2-516 (2) is not eligible for expungement under this subsection (5), but may petition for expungement pursuant to subsection (6)(e) of this section.

(6)  (a) A person may petition the juvenile court to expunge records in a closed case pursuant to subsection (4) of this section if the records are otherwise eligible for expungement, have not been expunged by the court, and a proceeding concerning a felony, misdemeanor, or delinquency action is not pending against the petitioner. A filing fee, notarization, or other formalities are not required. If the court determines the records are eligible for expungement pursuant to the requirements of subsection (4) of this section, the court shall grant the petition to expunge without a hearing and shall issue an order pursuant to subsection (4) of this section.

(b)  A person may petition the juvenile court to expunge records in a closed case pursuant to subsection (5) of this section if the records are otherwise eligible for expungement, have not been expunged by the court, and a proceeding concerning a felony, misdemeanor, or delinquency action is not pending against the petitioner. A filing fee, notarization, or other formalities are not required. If the records are eligible for expungement pursuant to subsection (5) of this section, the court shall issue a notice pursuant to subsection (5)(a) of this section and the provisions of subsection (5) of this section apply.

(c)  A person may petition the juvenile court to expunge records related to a law enforcement contact that did not result in referral to another agency after one year has passed since the law enforcement contact and a proceeding concerning a felony, misdemeanor, or delinquency action is not pending against the petitioner. A filing fee, notarization, or other formalities are not required. If the records are eligible for expungement pursuant to subsection (5) of this section, the court shall issue a notice pursuant to subsection (5)(a) of this section and the provisions of subsection (5) of this section apply.

(d)  A person may petition the juvenile court to expunge records in a closed case pursuant to subsection (5) of this section if the person was previously denied an expungement order for those same records pursuant to subsection (5) of this section and at least twelve months have passed since the date of the original denial order, the petitioner provides new information not previously considered by the prior reviewing court, and a proceeding concerning a felony, misdemeanor, or delinquency action is not pending against the petitioner. The court shall schedule a hearing and notify the prosecuting attorney of the hearing date. The court shall set the hearing at least thirty-five days after the court sends the notice of the hearing. All other provisions of subsection (5) of this section apply.

(e)  A juvenile who was adjudicated as a mandatory sentence offender pursuant to section 19-2-516 (1) or as a repeat offender pursuant to section 19-2-516 (2), and is not otherwise ineligible for expungement pursuant to the provisions of subsection (8) of this section and does not have a proceeding concerning a felony, misdemeanor, or delinquency action pending against himself or herself, may petition the court to request expungement of his or her record thirty-six months after the date of the petitioner's unconditional release from his or her juvenile sentence. A filing fee, notarization, or other formalities are not required. The court shall issue a notice pursuant to subsection (5)(a) of this section, and the provisions of subsection (5) of this section apply.

(7)  Unless otherwise stated in the applicable section, a person may file a petition with the court for expungement of his or her record pursuant to subsections (4), (5), and (6) of this section only once during a twelve-month period.

(8)  Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (4), (5), and (6) of this section, a court shall not expunge the record of a person who is:

(a)  Adjudicated as an aggravated juvenile offender pursuant to section 19-2-516 (4) or as a violent juvenile offender pursuant to section 19-2-516 (3);

(b)  Adjudicated of homicide and related offenses pursuant to part 1 of article 3 of title 18;

(c)  Adjudicated for a felony offense involving unlawful sexual behavior as described in section 16-22-102 (9); or

(d)  Charged, adjudicated, or convicted of any offense or infraction pursuant to title 42.

(9)  Municipal court records. (a) The court shall send notice to the prosecuting attorney that all records in a case charging a juvenile with a violation of a municipal code or ordinance, excluding offenses charged pursuant to title 42, all records of the case in the custody of the court, and any records related to the case or charges in the custody of any other agency, person, company, or organization will be expunged forty-two days after completion of the municipal sentence.

(b)  If the prosecuting attorney does not file an objection within forty-two days after receipt of the notice from the court pursuant to subsection (9)(a) of this section, the municipal court shall order all records related to the case and charges in the custody of any other agency, person, company, or organization expunged.

(c)  If the prosecuting attorney files an objection within forty-two days after receipt of the notice by the court pursuant to subsection (9)(a) of this section, the court shall schedule a hearing on the issue of expungement. The court shall notify the prosecuting attorney of the hearing date.

(d)  If a hearing is scheduled pursuant to subsection (9)(c) of this section, the court shall send notice to the last known address of the juvenile notifying the juvenile of the date of the hearing and of the juvenile's right to appear at the hearing and to present evidence to the court in writing prior to the hearing and in person at the hearing. The notice must indicate that, at the hearing, the court will consider whether the juvenile has been rehabilitated and whether the expungement is in the best interest of the juvenile and the community. The juvenile is not required to appear at the hearing.

(e)  At a hearing held pursuant to this subsection (9), the court shall order all records of the case in the custody of the court, and any records related to the case or charges in the custody of any other agency, person, company, or organization, expunged if the court makes written findings that the juvenile successfully completed the sentence or the municipal court case is closed.

(f)  On November 1 of each year, the municipal court shall review all juvenile court files during the two previous years that resulted in a finding of not guilty or guilty or resulted in diversion, deferred judgment, dismissal, or other disposition or resolution, and enter an expungement order for all juveniles eligible for expungement pursuant to this subsection (9) if the expungement order was not previously made.

(g)  In the event that municipal records have not been expunged pursuant to this section, an individual may petition the juvenile court in the judicial district where the municipality is located to expunge records of a municipal case brought against a juvenile. Expungement proceedings pursuant to this subsection (9) must be initiated by the filing of a petition requesting an order of expungement. A filing fee, notarization, or other formalities shall not be required. If the petition is not granted without a hearing, the court shall set a date for a hearing on the petition for expungement and shall notify the appropriate prosecuting attorney.

(h)  The court shall order all records related to the municipal case in the custody of the court, and any records related to the case and charges in the custody of any other agency, person, company, or organization, expunged pursuant to this subsection (9) if the court finds that the sentence has been completed or the municipal court case is closed.

(10)  Upon the entry of an order expunging a record pursuant to this section, the court shall order, in writing, the expungement of all case records in the custody of the court and any records related to the case and charges in the custody of any other agency, person, company, or organization. The court may order expunged any records, but, at a minimum, the following records must be expunged pursuant to every expungement order:

(a)  All court records;

(b)  All records retained within the office of the prosecuting attorney;

(c)  All probation and parole records;

(d)  All law enforcement records;

(e)  All department of human services records, including disassociating the offense and the disposition information from the name of the youth in the management information system;

(f)  All division of youth services records;

(g)  All department of corrections records; and

(h)  References to the criminal case or charge contained in the school records.

(11)  When an expungement order is issued pursuant to this section, the court shall send a copy of the order to the juvenile, the juvenile's last attorney of record, and each agency, person, company, or organization named therein, directing the entity to expunge its records within thirty-five days after the receipt of the order. Each such agency, person, company, or organization shall expunge the records in its custody as directed by the order. The person who is the subject of records expunged pursuant to this section may petition the court to permit inspection of the records held by persons named in the order, and the court may so order.

(12)  Any agency, person, company, or organization that violates this section and knew that the records in question were subject to an expungement order may be subject to criminal and civil contempt of court and may be punished by a fine.

(13)  Employers; educational institutions; landlords; and state and local government agencies, officials, and employees shall not, in any application or interview or in any other way, require an applicant to disclose any information contained in expunged records. In answer to any question concerning arrest or juvenile and criminal records information that has been expunged, an applicant need not include a reference to or information concerning the expunged information and may state that no record exists. An application may not be denied solely because of the applicant's refusal to disclose records or information that has been expunged.

(14)  Nothing in this section authorizes the physical destruction of any juvenile or criminal justice record.

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