INSTRUCTIONS TO FILE A PETITION TO SEAL ARREST AND CRIMINAL RECORDS These standard instructions are for informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice about your case. If you choose to represent yourself, you are bound by the same rules and procedures as an attorney. GENERAL INFORMATION Any person in interest (party to the case) may petition the District Court to seal records by filing a civil action in the county in which any arrest and/or criminal records are filed. A separate civil case must be filed for each court case record you want sealed, unless both a county court case (F Case) and a district court case (CR case) were established as a result of the same offense. The arrest records may be included in the case file or you may need to contact the arresting agency. You may only petition the Court to seal arrest or criminal records if the Defendant meets one of the following requirements: All charges were dismissed or the Defendant was acquitted of all charges. There is only an arrest record and no charges were filed in a Court. The Defendant had a case that was dismissed due to a plea agreement in another case and 15 or more years have passed from the final disposition of all criminal proceedings and no additional criminal charges since the date of the final disposition of all criminal proceedings have been filed against the Defendant. You may not petition the Court to seal arrest or criminal records if: The Defendant has been convicted of an offense for which the factual basis involved unlawful sexual behavior pursuant to §16-22-102(9), C.R.S.; or An offense was not charged due to a plea agreement in a separate case, but 15 years have not passed since the final disposition of all criminal proceedings against the Defendant; or A dismissal occurred as part of a plea agreement in a separate case, but 15 years have not passed since the final disposition of all criminal proceedings against the Defendant; or The Defendant still owes restitution, fines, court costs, late fees, or other fees ordered by the Court in the case being requested to seal, unless the court has vacated such order. The offense pertains to any class 1 or class 2 misdemeanor traffic offense, or to any class A or class B traffic infraction, or any conviction for a violation of Driving Under the Influence §42-4-1301(1) or (2), C.R.S. The Court, law enforcement and criminal justice agencies will always have access to the file. The files are not destroyed. However, as provided under the statute, if inquiries are made by anyone other than a criminal justice agency, all agencies must respond that “no such record exists with respect to such person”. For additional information, please review Colorado Revised Statute §24-72-308. If you have a disability and need a reasonable accommodation to access the courts, please contact your local ADA Coordinator. Contact information can be obtained from the following website: http://www.courts.state.co.us/chs/court/ada/coordinators.htm COMMON TERMS ⌦ Petition: ⌦ Petitioner: ⌦ Person in Interest: ⌦ Arrest: ⌦ Acquitted: ⌦ Criminal Case: ⌦ May: ⌦ Shall: Document officially commences the Sealing of Records process. The person or persons filing a Petition to Seal Arrest and Criminal Records. The person who is the primary subject of a criminal justice record or his/her legal representative. If the person is under legal disability this means and includes the person’s parent. To take into custody by legal authority. The finding of not guilty by a Judge or Jury. A case brought by the government against an individual accused of committing a crime. In legal terms, “may” is defined as “optional” or “can”. In legal terms, “shall” is defined as “required”. If you do not understand this information, please contact an attorney. JDF 416 R7/07 INSTRUCTIONS TO SEAL ARREST AND CRIMINAL RECORDS Page 1 of 3 American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkflow.com FEES The filing fee is $156.00. If you are unable to pay, you must complete the Motion to File without Payment and Supporting Financial Affidavit (JDF 205) and submit it to the Court. Once you submit the completed JDF 205 form and a blank Order (JDF 206), the Court will decide if you need to pay the filing fee. Other fees that a party to the case may encounter are as follows: Records Search Fees Varies and is payable to the agency Copies of Documents (Documents on File) $ .75 per page or $1.50 if double-sided Copies of Documents (Documents not on File) $ .25 per page or $.50 if double-sided Certification Fee $15.00 per document FORMS To access forms online, go to the website at www.courts.state.co.us and then click “Self-Help Center”. The forms are available in PDF or WORD under Criminal - Sealing of Records. Please click either PDF or WORD by the title of the form. You may complete a form online or you may print it and type or print legibly in black ink. JDF 417 JDF 418 JDF 419 JDF 435 Petition to Seal Arrest and Criminal Records Order to Seal Arrest and Criminal Records Order and Notice of Hearing (Sealing of Records) Order Denying Petition to Seal Arrest and Criminal Record STEPS TO FILING YOUR CASE Step 1: Obtain arrest and criminal records. In order to file a Petition to Seal Arrest and Criminal Records, you must obtain the proper case report numbers, case numbers, and arrest numbers from the original arrest or criminal records. This information is necessary to ensure that your case is sealed properly, if ordered by the Court. A fee may be required to obtain this information. No Criminal Justice Information involving a conviction may be sealed. The records may be found in the following locations: Court Records. County and district court files are available from the clerk of court’s office for each respective court. Municipal Court Records. These can be found at each Municipal Court. Contact the specific court for assistance. Arrest or Police Records. Contact the arresting agency. Their files have the arresting agency and arrest numbers. Colorado State criminal history. This report may assist you in locating correct dates, arrest numbers, and agency case numbers to include on your Petition. Criminal history reports can be accessed immediately by using the web-based system https://www.cbirecordscheck.com/Index.asp You will be charged $6.85 to your credit card per result viewed. If you are unable to access the Internet, please call the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) at 303239-4208 for additional information. CBI is located at 690 Kipling in Denver. Step 2: Complete the appropriate forms. Petition to Seal Arrest and Criminal Records (JDF 417). Enter the Defendant’s name in the case caption. All applicable sections must be completed before the case is filed. You are responsible for specifying with a checkmark each criminal justice agency that has the Defendant’s criminal records. Do not include the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). It is the Colorado Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) responsibility to contact the FBI if there is a corresponding FBI record. Specify the charge(s) for any arrest record or court case file you want sealed. You may obtain this information from the arresting agency and the court clerk’s office. JDF 416 R7/07 INSTRUCTIONS TO SEAL ARREST AND CRIMINAL RECORDS Page 2 of 3 American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkflow.com If you had a case that was dismissed due to a plea agreement in a separate case, provide the case number(s) that are related to the plea agreement. You must enter the case number(s) of all the files you want sealed. If you are requesting multiple cases to be sealed, a separate filing fee for each case is required. List the result of the official action you are petitioning to seal. This Petition must be signed in the presence of a Court Clerk or Notary Public. Order Denying Petition to Seal Arrest and Criminal Record (JDF 435). Complete only the caption on this form. The Court will complete this form only if your Petition is denied. Order to Seal Arrest and Criminal Records (JDF 418). Complete all portions of the form. You must indicate the same agencies on the Order as you did on the Petition. The Judge or Magistrate will sign the Order at the time of the hearing if your Petition is approved. Order and Notice of Hearing (JDF 419). Complete all portions of the form. The Court may send this notice and a copy of the Petition to you and all the agencies you listed on the Petition or you may be required to mail to all the agencies once the hearing is set. Step 3: You are ready to file the case with the Court. Provide the Court with the documents completed as described in Steps 1 - 2 above and pay the filing fee of $156.00. If you are requesting to seal multiple cases, you must file a separate Petition to Seal and a separate $156.00 filing fee for each case. If the Petition has not been signed in the presence of a Notary Public, you will sign the Petition before the Clerk at this time. You may be required to provide copies of your Petition to Seal for each of the agencies identified on the Order and Notice of Hearing to the Court. The Court may require addressed stamped envelopes for every agency you identified on the Notice and Certificate of Mailing. In addition, provide a self-addressed stamped enveloped to receive a copy of the Order. Step 4: The Court will review the Petition and supporting documents to determine if a hearing will be set. If the Petition is denied the Court will send you an Order Denying the Petition (JDF 435). This Order will specify the reasons for the denial of the Petition and no hearing will be set. If the Petition is sufficient on its face and no grounds exist at that time for the Court to deny the Petition, a hearing will be set. The Court may send an Order and Notice of Hearing and a copy of the Petition to you and all the agencies you listed on the Petition or you may be required to mail the Order and Notice of Hearing and Petition to all the agencies. If an agency files an objection, you will receive a copy of that objection. Step 5: Be prepared for the hearing. You may be asked questions about the request for sealing an arrest and criminal record and any objections filed, if applicable. On the hearing date the Court will either grant or deny the Petition to Seal Arrest and Criminal Records. The Court will automatically seal the civil action record. Step 6: Following the hearing. After the Order is entered, it is your responsibility to notify the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (if applicable), and those agencies listed on the Order, by mailing each agency a copy of the signed order. Your failure to notify the agencies may result in the Defendant’s arrest and criminal record not being sealed. You do not need to notify the District or County Court, but you must notify the Municipal Court Clerk if Municipal court records are being sealed. Approximately 30 days after you send a copy of the Court’s order to the agencies listed, the Defendant’s record will be sealed by the agencies. JDF 416 R7/07 INSTRUCTIONS TO SEAL ARREST AND CRIMINAL RECORDS Page 3 of 3 American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkflow.com