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The Daily Insight

How long do felonies stay on your record in Colorado?

Author

Daniel Martin

Updated on February 18, 2026

Level 2 drug felony convictions can be sealed five years after the case ends. And the remaining felonies are sealable three years after the case ends.

Considering this, can you seal a felony record in Colorado?

Colorado does allow some felony drug cases to be sealed such as level 4 drug felonies or class 5 or 6 felony drug possession convictions. All other drug offenses require a ten-year waiting period before filing a petition to seal a criminal conviction. You will need to file a JDF 612 as well to seal your drug crime.

Also Know, do felonies go away after 7 years? Reporting Felony Convictions After 7 Years Non-convictions can be reported for up to seven years. The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) allows felony arrests to be reported on background checks for seven years after release from prison. Felony convictions can be reported as far back as the employer chooses to go.

Keeping this in consideration, how long does a felony stay on your record in Colorado?

Drug Misdemeanor – two years after final dispositions or release. Class 4, 5, or 6 Felony – three years after final disposition or release. Level 3 or 4 Drug Felony – three years after final disposition or release. Class 1 Misdemeanor – three years after final disposition or release.

Do felonies ever go away?

Unfortunately a felony doesn't ever go away unless you go through a strict process to have it expunged.

Related Question Answers

How much does it cost to seal your record in Colorado?

There will be a $224.00 filing fee. If you can't pay it, you may complete a Motion to File Without Payment and Supporting Financial Affidavit. Here's a basic rundown of the process, as outlined in information provided by the State of Colorado Judicial Department: Obtain your arrest records and criminal records.

How do I get a deferred sentence expunged in Colorado?

Go to the district court in the county you received your deferred sentence. File the paperwork with the clerk and pay the $224 filing fee. Wait for a response from the court and attend a hearing, if requested. At the hearing you may need to defend your petition to expunge in front of a judge and prosecutor.

Can a felony be sealed?

Who can have a misdemeanor or felony expunged or sealed? Most first time offenders can have a felony expunged or sealed but your chances of this happening are much greater or will happen if you have: Completed all court orders including but not limited to; prison sentence, probation, fines or reparations.

Can you expunge a Dwai in Colorado?

In Colorado, the offenses that can be expunged are limited, mainly to juvenile records, and while there is a possibility that a DUI can be expunged, it is only under certain circumstances that it can. For instance, if you plead guilty or were found guilty of a DUI, then there is no possibility for expungement.

How much does it cost to seal your record?

Typical costs: Hiring an attorney to handle an expungement starts around $400-$1,000 for a single criminal charge but can run $1,000-$4,000 or more depending on the number and nature (misdemeanor or felony) of the charges, prevailing local legal rates and the status and experience of the attorney.

Can a Class 5 felony be expunged?

Felonies that are usually not eligible for expungement include sexual crimes, child pornography, crimes in which the victim is younger than 18, and many violent crimes. Class 5 felonies are the lowest class and usually don't have mandatory prison time, making those offenses eligible to be expunged.

Can a felon hunt in Colorado?

WEAPONS RESTRICTIONS • Under Colorado law, convicted felons are prohibited from possessing any firearms or other weapons, which include muzzleloaders and archery equipment. Therefore, any convicted felon cannot hunt in Colorado. This statute applies to resident and nonresident hunters.

Can sealed records be unsealed?

When a record is sealed, it is still kept on file by the government, however, no one can look at it. So, can a sealed record be unsealed? The answer is yes, but again it is not as straightforward as it may seem.

Can a convicted felon own a gun after 10 years in Colorado?

In 1994, Colorado amended its gun laws to ban any felon from ever possessing a firearm. After his last conviction in 1988, Colorado law allowed for Beeson and other non-violent felons to be able to possess a firearm 10 years after completition of sentencing.

How much does it cost to expunge a felony in Colorado?

6. How much does it cost to get a record seal in Colorado?
Colorado offense Record seal court filing fee
Drug convictions from July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2011 $424 plus a $27.98 processing fee
Drug convictions from July 1, 2011 to the present $224 plus a $27.98 processing fee

Will a felony show up on a background check after 10 years?

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) allows felony arrests to be reported on background checks for seven years after release from prison. Felony convictions can be reported as far back as the employer chooses to go. Many employers check only five to ten years history when hiring applicants.

How do I get a job with a felony?

Here are a few things to do if you are going to look for a job with a felony on your record:
  1. Do your research ahead of time.
  2. Eliminate the non-starters (don't waste your time)
  3. Don't go at it alone.
  4. Forget working for someone else, set up your own business.
  5. Freelance Online.
  6. Get back to your education.
  7. Clear your record.

Can a felon ride in the vehicle with someone who has a gun?

A: Yes. So long as you are a legal concealed carrier, there's nothing barring that from happening so long as the felon does not possess the gun at any time. MOST states prohibit a known convicted felon of having any reasonable access to the firearms within a house.

Can a felon get his gun rights back in Colorado?

If you've been convicted of a felony offense, you may be able to have your gun rights restored by obtaining a Colorado Governor's Pardon. This is the public forgiveness of a past crime and will restore some of the rights you lost when you were convicted.

What states only go back 7 years on background checks?

Under the FCRA, convictions can appear on a background report regardless of when they occurred. However, some states have limited the scope of conviction reporting to seven years, including California, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, New Mexico, New York, New Hampshire, and Washington.

How can I check my criminal record for free?

Luckily, most court information is public record. To find it, go to your state's official government website or find the information you need at the National Center for State Courts. Make sure you search every state that the person you're checking has lived in.

What states can felons own guns?

According to the National Rifle Association's lobbying arm, the Institute for Legislative Action, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Washington ban felons from possessing firearms.

How can I cheat a background check?

Here are 3 common ways applicants cheat their background check report and how prevent them:
  1. Incomplete, purchased or no degree at all.
  2. Providing a false date of birth to avoid a criminal record on the report.
  3. Forging professional experience with a fake employer.

Can a felon get a government job?

Getting a Government Job With a Felony Yes, you can get a government job with a felony on your record. In general, you won't be automatically rejected just because you have a criminal history. The government considers all applicants with felony convictions on a case-by-case basis.

Can you get a passport if you have a felony record?

In general, yes, they should be able to. Convicted felons who want to get a passport need to understand the restrictions placed on them. In some states a felon can still obtain a passport (and visa) if their crime was not related to international drug trafficking.

When can you expunge a felony?

Some adult felony and misdemeanors can be expunged, but does not include sexual or child-related offenses. Juvenile records are automatically sealed at age 21. Many adult arrest, misdemeanor and felony records may be expunged after a waiting period. Expungement allowed under some circumstances.

Can a felon work in a hospital?

Clinics, hospitals, nursing facilities and medical centers have very strict hiring policies and extensive background checks. Generally most places will avoid hiring someone with a felony, especially because there are so many candidates vying for one position.

How can I check to see if I have a felony?

Method 1 Requesting State Criminal Records
  1. Make a list of past residences. If you've lived in more than one state, you'll need to get your criminal record from each one to find out if you have a felony.
  2. Contact the appropriate state agency.
  3. Complete a request form.
  4. Get fingerprinted.
  5. Submit your request.

How far back do employers look in a criminal background check?

How far back does an employment background check go? Typically, employers requesting an employment background screening on an applicant will request a seven year history, although some states allow reporting information of up to 10 years.

How does a felony affect your life?

Being convicted of a felony is a serious event with lifelong consequences. Becoming a convicted felon will have a long lasting impact on a person's life and results in the loss of basic civil rights such as the right to vote, the right to sit on a jury, and the right to own, possess, or use a firearm.

Can a federal felony be expunged?

There is no legal mechanism to expunge a federal felony conviction. However, there is a federal law (18 U.S.C. Section 3607) that authorizes expungement of certain offenses under the Federal Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. Unfortunately, this is not currently the law.

How much does it cost to have a felony expunged?

Expungement Costs Attorney's fees to expunge a felony are usually between $1,000 and $2,500, and is inclusive of all costs associated with your expunction including court appearances.

Can I still get a job with a felony?

Getting a Government Job With a Felony Yes, you can get a government job with a felony on your record. In general, you won't be automatically rejected just because you have a criminal history. However, certain types of convictions may prevent you from being hired for particular jobs.

How much money is considered a felony?

In order to be a felony theft, the value of the property must exceed a minimum amount established by state law, typically between $500 and $1,000.

Can a convicted felon be a RN?

Plain and simple: some felons can be nurses, some will never get that chance. As with many instances involving felons, the answer can be complicated…but “in general,” yes, a felon can apply to be a nurse five years after the completion of their sentence (which includes parole, if that was part of the sentence).

How can I get rid of a felony on my record?

Expungement. The only way to get rid of a felony record is to have it expunged, which means erasing the record like it never occurred. Requirements for expunging a record vary by state. Many states don't allow violent felony offenders to expunge their records.

Can a felon be a CNA?

If you want to become a certified nursing assistant, a background check could disqualify you if you have a prior felony conviction. However, there is some hope as most states handle positive hits on a case by case basis.

Can you rent an apartment if you have a felony?

No matter how long ago your conviction may have been the landlord holds the right to deny you housing based on your past convictions. Not renting to a person with a felony is a rental standard designed to minimize the landlord's liability risk. But it is important to note that all landlords may not feel this way.

How do you get a felony expunged in Florida?

A petition to expunge (or seal) your criminal records must be done at the court where the arrest or conviction happened. A sealing or expungement in Florida will completely remove the incident from your records. An expungement seals and destroys the records of the arrest and case.