Law enforcement agencies investigate crimes or allegations of crimes. While they investigate, they create reports. These reports remain in the possession of the law enforcement agency forever. They can come back to bite when you least expect it, like applying for a job that has a background check. Moreover, these reports are usually public records, and are provided to anyone that asks for them.
These records include police reports from investigations that did not lead to criminal charges. Even if someone makes a false or misguided accusation against you that does not leave to a criminal charge, there is still a record on file of that investigation and accusation.
Did you know that often times those records can be sealed? Sealing these records allows you to legally deny that any records exist, and prevent the law enforcement agency from releasing those reports, or even acknowledging that they exist.
Colorado has several statutes dealing with sealing criminal justice records, depending on whether the case resulted in a conviction, deferred judgement, deferred prosecution, or no prosecution at all. Certain records cannot be sealed, like most traffic related matters, deferred sex crimes and DUI’s, amongst others.
Depending on the nature of the investigation and/or court proceeding, sealing these records may be simple, such as filing a motion with the court or making an oral motion when appropriate, or may involve going to a hearing. A hearing would mean witnesses can be called and evidence presented, and a judge would determine whether these records are eligible for seal.
The attorneys at Front Line Law are experienced in sealing these criminal justice records. If you are interested in sealing records that may unnecessarily harm your future, please call us for a consultation.
