By H. Michael Steinberg on August 13, 2011 7:30 PM
The bill amends the process for sealing the record of a criminal conviction under Colorado’s Uniform Controlled Substances Act, reduces the waiting period for certain classes of convictions, and authorizes the process of records sealing for additional classes of convictions. With limited exceptions, the bill applies only to convictions on or after July 1, 2011.
The New Law: Colorado House Bill 11-1167
Sealing criminal records – drug offenses – time periods – district attorney approval – no reporting of sealed convictions – advisement of rights – applicability July 1, 2011.
This new law – which takes effect on July 1. 2011 amends the petition process for sealing certain drug offense criminal conviction records.
It Amends the time period the defendant has to wait to petition the court to seal the record which depends on the severity of the offense.
In order to have the record sealed, the defendant must show the court that he or she has not been convicted of another offense or been charged with another offense since the discharge of the offense for which the defendant is seeking to have sealed.
District Attorney Can Object and Veto the Process
The district attorney has the right to object to the petition or veto the request for all offenses except petty offenses. Also depending on the severity of the offense, the court can:
(1) immediately order the record sealed,
or (2) can consider the petition based on established criteria,
or (3) can hold a hearing to decide the petition.
The court, in making the decision whether to seal conviction records, considers the privacy interests of the defendant against the public interest in retaining the conviction records as open records.
Conviction records cannot be sealed if the defendant still owes court-ordered restitution, fines, or fees.
A defendant who successfully petitions a court for the sealing of conviction records must provide the Colorado bureau of investigation (bureau) and each custodian of the conviction records with a copy of the court’s order to seal the conviction records and pay to the bureau any costs related to the sealing of the conviction records in the custody of the bureau.
Employers and certain institutions and agencies are prohibited from requiring an applicant to disclose information in sealed conviction records. Law enforcement will report that there are no public records in response to inquiries about sealed criminal conviction records. The office of the state court administrator must post on its web site a list of all petitions to seal conviction records that are filed with a district court.
The new law also prohibits district court from granting a petition to seal conviction records until at least 30 days following the posting.
Here are THE SPECIFICS OF THE NEW LAW:24-72-308.6. sealing of criminal conviction records information
For offenses involving controlled substances for convictions entered on or after July 1, 2011.
(1) Definitions. For purposes of this section, “conviction records” means arrest and criminal records information and any records pertaining to a judgment of conviction.
(2) Sealing of conviction records.
(A) (i) subject to the Limitations described in subsection (4) 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 subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph (a).
Drug Crimes – Petty Offenses or Class 2 or 3 Misdemeanors (three years)
(II) (A) If the offense is a petty offense or a class 2 or 3 Misdemeanor in article 18 of title 18, CRS 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.
Drug Crimes – Class 1 Misdemeanors (five years)
(B) If the offense is a class 1 misdemeanor in article 18 of Title 18, CRS, 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.
Drug Crimes – Class 5 and Class 6 Felonies (seven years)
(C) if the offense is a class 5 felony or class 6 felony drug possession offense described in section 18-18-403.5 or 18-18-404, CRS., or section 18-18-405, CRS., 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.
Posted by Records Removal Services. Credit to the H. Michael Steinberg, Attorney
> Posted by Records Removal Services. The information you obtain at this site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice.
