Denver Expungement Lawyer
As you are probably well aware, having any type of criminal record can severely hamstring your progression in life. From getting a job to acquiring a loan, a criminal record will only hold you back. However, you may be able to have your criminal record expunged or sealed, depending on the type of crime you were charged with, and other factors. Expungement or sealing can give you the privacy to move on with your life and finally put your unfortunate past behind you. Denver expungement lawyer Reid DeChant at DeChant Law will look at your case and help you decide what actions to take.
Expungement Vs. Sealing
While many people use the two terms interchangeably, there is a difference between record sealing and expungement in Colorado. Expungement can only be applied to juvenile criminal records, and it involves actually destroying a criminal record, versus hiding it from public view. As such, expungement can be utilized by current juveniles and adults who were convicted as juveniles. As far as the law is concerned, an expunged record is a record that never existed in the first place. Record sealing is still a great option for adults with criminal records, as sealing hides their past from virtually everyone, including employers, potential employers, landlords, banks and lenders, educational institutions, and other institutions. The only parties that will have access to one’s sealed record are those in the criminal justice system.
What Offense Can Be Expunged or Sealed in Colorado?
There are different rules for those with juvenile criminal records and those with adult records when it comes to what offense can and cannot be expunged/sealed. Most juvenile offenses can be expunged, from arrest records to certain types of convictions (serious felony convictions cannot be expunged, as most serious driving offenses cannot be expunged). Those with adult records are generally much more restricted on what type of offenses can be sealed. Factors that play a role in expungement eligibility include:
- The type of offense
- The age of the defendant at the time of the offense
- Whether or not the charge resulted in a conviction
- How long ago the conviction, arrest, or incident occurred
Conviction Records That Cannot be Expunged or Sealed
Serious criminal convictions cannot be expunged or sealed, no matter the age of the defendant. This list does not apply for arrests that did not lead to a conviction:
- Sex crimes
- Violent crimes
- Class 1 Felonies
- Class 2 Felonies
- Class 3 Felonies
- Level 1 Drug Felonies
- DUIs
- Domestic violence
- Class 1, 2, A, and B misdemeanor traffic offenses
Call a Denver Expungement Lawyer Today
Whether you have a criminal record from your time as a juvenile, or you were arrested for an offense later on in life, expungement or criminal record sealing may be an option to help you get your life back on track and leave the past in the past. To learn more about your options for destroying or obscuring your criminal record from public view, call Denver expungement lawyer Reid DeChant today at 720-634-6789 for a free consultation.
